Match Preview: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 38th Match

As Bangladesh and Sri Lanka face off in their 38th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, more than pride is at stake. With a Champions Trophy qualification hanging in the balance, both teams, despite their struggles, aim to harness their potential and end their tournament stints on a high. Bangladesh seeks to halt a losing streak, while Sri Lanka aims to blend their sporadic brilliance with consistency.

Venue Insights

The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is known for its batting-friendly pitch, with a dry climate and short boundaries that favour high-scoring games. As matches progress, the arid pitch conditions tend to assist spin bowlers significantly. Teams winning the toss usually opt to bat first, aiming to post and then defend a substantial total. Historically, the average score for the first innings at this venue in ODIs stands at around 238.

Form Guide - Bangladesh

Bangladesh's form leading into their match against Sri Lanka is a string of defeats, marked by LLLLL, in their last five completed ODI matches. This string of losses is a sharp detour from their victorious performances at the start of 2021, where they had a commendable win record of 24 victories out of 39 ODIs. Their recent downturn, starting with a loss against Afghanistan, has extended to six consecutive defeats, including a loss to England, making them one of the teams with the poorest records in the current tournament.

Bangladesh's woes have been partly attributed to the disruption of their once-stable batting lineup. As they face Sri Lanka, they will be looking to recalibrate and regain lost momentum in hopes of finishing strong in a tournament that has seen them perform well below expectations, particularly given the conditions which seemed favourable initially.

Form Guide - Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's recent ODI form has been inconsistent, reflected in their LLWWL, record in their last five matches. This fluctuating performance has been characteristic of the Sri Lankan side, which has shown flashes of brilliance interspersed with periods of underperformance. In the ongoing tournament, they have struggled to find their footing in the ODI format, appearing to transition from a T20 mindset. Head coach Chris Silverwood's call for aggression seemed to go unheeded, especially in the wake of Kusal Perera's exclusion in favour of Dimuth Karunaratne, which signalled a more conservative approach.

The team's off-field challenges, including disputes between Sri Lanka Cricket and the sports minister, as well as rumoured coaching and selection committee changes, have compounded the pressure. Despite these issues, they will aim to apply a positive mindset and aggressive play to overcome the Bangladesh team and end their campaign on a positive note.

Players to Watch

Mushfiqur Rahim

In the Bangladesh camp, all eyes will be on Mushfiqur Rahim, whose tournament trajectory has been a talking point. Starting at No. 6, where he scored 171 runs at an average of 28.50, Rahim has not mirrored the success he enjoyed over the past seven months in that position. The decision to revert him to No. 4, his traditional and more productive batting slot, is a strategic move by Bangladesh.