Bangladesh entered the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 hoping to improve their poor record in the tournament. Facing India in their opening match was a huge challenge. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto aimed for a positive result, but their decision to bat first didn’t work out as expected.
- India has a strong record when chasing in ODIs.
- Bangladesh also performs better when batting second.
- Dubai’s pitch favors teams that chase totals.
1. India Are Stronger While Chasing
India has built a reputation for being one of the best chasing teams in ODI cricket. Their top-order ensures they remain in control when batting second.
- In the last 10 years, 67 out of 124 Indian ODI wins came while chasing.
- In the last five years, their chasing wins still outnumber their victories while setting a target.
- In the last three years, India has won 22 out of 41 ODIs when batting second.
Ignoring India’s chasing ability was a major strategic error for Bangladesh.
2. Bangladesh Also Prefers to Chase
Bangladesh, much like India, performs better when chasing totals. Their recent ODI record shows a clear pattern:
- In the last three years, 14 out of 24 of their ODI wins came while bowling first.
- Over the last 10 years, Bangladesh has the same number of wins when batting first and second.
- Against India, they have 8 ODI wins, but chasing has given them a better chance of success.
Opting to bat first against a strong Indian bowling attack proved to be a costly mistake.
3. Dubai’s ODI Record Favors Chasing Teams
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium has seen a clear advantage for teams that chase:
- Out of 56 ODIs with outright results, 34 matches were won by teams batting second.
- In the recent International League T20, 11 out of 15 games in Dubai were won by teams that chased.
With these statistics in mind, Bangladesh could have increased their chances of success by bowling first.
Bangladesh had a chance to make a strong start in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, but their decision to bat first backfired. India’s strength in chasing, Bangladesh’s own preference for batting second, and Dubai’s pitch conditions all pointed towards bowling first as the smarter choice. Adjusting strategies based on match conditions is crucial, especially in a high-stakes tournament like this.
Check out the Champions Trophy Stats
