An easy outing await India today in the Asia Cup, as it takes on the host Bangladesh in its second match of the 10th Asia Cup being underway in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
However, there is a task for India against the backdrop of Pakistan defeating Bangladesh with a generous score of 7-0 in the opening day. Both Pakistan and India in Group A wish to lead their group so that they get easy meat in the the Super 4s (quarterfinals). Besides, topping the pool, though it would depend on who between the two will win on the all important day the 15th Oct, will bear huge psychological boost in the knock out stage.
Therefore the question of scoring more goals than Pakistan against Bangladesh will taunt Indian captain Manpreet Singh and its think tank.
With Pakistan and India in the same pool, every match they play will bear such psychological conundrum.
Now that the inexperienced Bangladesh has learnt its lessons in defence, no way scoring for India will be an easy task.
Despite 5-1 rout of Japan, Indian forwards did not cover themselves with glory. They were somehow sluggish and wasteful.
Even the Indian coach had said something similar: “As a coach, I am always critical so I have to say I am not 100 per cent happy with how we played (against Japan). I believe we can do better but this was our first match and now that the team is done with shaking off the initial jitters, I think we can focus on improved performance in the next game,” stated India’s Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne.
Its therefore clear the Indian forwards did cut much ice. Such missing out easy tasks will not work tomorrow. More so because what history tells: easy meat teams packs up their citadel making rival forwards to do their business after suffering huge loss.
Therefore, there is an element of excitement await in the Bangladesh tie. That is whether India can score more that Pakistan did yesterday.
STAT: India have won all the seven matches it played against Bangladesh. India has struck 52 goals while all that Bangladesh has in its kitty is mere two goals.