13:00 Local Time, 07:30 GMT, 13:00 IST: Here's an update from Vijay Tagore, our correspondent, from the stadium: "Although the conditions are not exactly overcast, the ground staff has kept the pitch covered. The Indian team has arrived at the ground, and Hardik Pandya is seen running around it. A cyclone alert is active in neighboring Mumbai as a storm is developing in the Arabian Sea, but no rain is expected in Pune today. Consequently, there were a few slight raindrops in Pune last night, but the match should proceed without interruption. Currently, there are no crowds in the stands, which remain largely empty. However, there is still ample time before the match starts, and a full house is expected. The Indian team has included Mohammed Shami in the final 12, increasing the likelihood of the veteran player's participation."

India, one of the tournament favourites, are on a roll winning three in a row, all three while chasing. All the wins have been set-up by the bowlers. They didn't allow Australia and Pakistan to even get to 200 and restricted Afghanistan to 272 on a batting belter. They haven't over-relied on a single bowler and that's a great sign for the two-time World Champions. With the bat, they were in a spot of bother against the Aussies when they lost three of their top four batters for ducks, but they haven't put a foot wrong after that. While the Kohli-Rahul partnership bailed them out of trouble in Chennai, the Indian captain took the attack to the bowlers in the next two matches to squash any hopes of the opponents. Rohit Sharma, who now has the most WC centuries, was named the Player of the Match in the last two World Cup outings between India and Bangladesh. The hosts have all the bases covered with Shardul Thakur's spot being the only issue of debate.

Bangladesh began their campaign with a clinical win over Afghanistan but they come into this match on the back of two successive heavy defeats. They conceded 364 against England and their total of 245 was hunted down by the Kiwis pretty comfortably. For them to be competitive against an in-form Indian team, Bangladesh have to up their game in both the departments. Their batting has been a major concern for a while now. Barring his 76 vs England, Litton Das has hardly contributed in the last seven ODI innings. Najmul Hossain Shanto, who had four successive 50+ scores, has flopped in his last two outings. Shakib has blown hot and cold with the bat. Mushfiqur Rahim has been in good nick having scored back-to-back fifties; but is he batting too low? Their bowling too has looked toothless on good batting decks. Can they bring out their A-game today? Well, Bangladesh are still sweating over Shakib's fitness due to a left quad injury.

12:45 Local Time, 07:15 GMT, 12:45 IST: Over the last four days, we've seen three teams get off the mark, including two surprising results. New Zealand, meanwhile, registered their fourth convincing win in as many games to go to the top of the table. The hosts will be keen to do the same. The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune is all set to host its first match of this competition. Hello everyone and a warm welcome to Game 17 of the Cricket World Cup. Can Bangladesh - who have beaten their neighbours thrice in the last four ODIs - end India's three-match winning streak? Their head coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, is bullish about his team's chances.

Preview by Vijay Tagore

A brief examination of the statistics for Indian batters reveals a compelling vulnerability to left-arm finger spin, a skill that the Bangladesh captain, the team's talisman, has mastered. India are set to face Bangladesh in their next World Cup match, and the numbers are telling. In ODIs since 2022, Indian batters have conceded 42 wickets to left-arm spinners, as opposed to 21 and 24 wickets to leg-spinners and off-spinners, respectively.

Shakib Al Hasan would naturally be pleased with this statistic, but there's a twist. The availability of the Bangladesh skipper for the game at the Maharashtra Cricket Stadium in Gahunje, located just 30 kms from Pune, is under a cloud. Shakib sustained an injury to his left quadriceps, and the Bangladesh management has yet to confirm his participation in the match.

"He's got amazing control. He's a very experienced bowler. He bowls very well with the new ball, knows how to deceive the batsman, and is also very economical. You have to play your best against all these bowlers," Virat Kohli said on the eve of the game. Shakib has 10 wickets in four games at an average of 18 and strike rate of 24 against India since 2022.

The Indian team have stated that they have no special strategy to counter Shakib, and whether or not he plays is inconsequential to them. "Honestly, I don't think any conversation that we have out here, we know he is a good player. He has done well for Bangladesh, he is a champion player, he is handy, he bats for the team, he bowls well, he bowls in the powerplay, he's a quality bowler and I think you got to give that to him. But for us really it doesn't really," India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey said on the eve of the game.

Putting the Shakib factor aside, the Bangladesh side has discovered ways to unsettle even the strongest of Indian teams. Recent statistics reflect Bangladesh's rise in this fixture. Bangladesh have won three of their last four ODIs against India, with their victories occurring in bilateral matches and the recent Asia Cup fixture, which was a less significant occasion.

Far from being a bilateral or dead rubber scenario, it is a live World Cup contest and this India team is in red hot form, with the batters, led by Rohit Sharma, in marauding mood and bowlers spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav operating with clockwork precision. All of which would point to India being favourites but don't rule out a strong Bangladesh performance.

When: India vs Bangladesh, October 19, 2023, 14:00 IST

Where: Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

What to expect: The pitch here has traditionally been a batter's paradise and it is unlikely to be any different on Thursday although it is fresh and being used for the first time in the season and the weather could be a little cool because of a cyclone warning in the neighbourhood.

Team Watch:

India

Given the small boundaries of Pune Stadium, including an extra spinner is ruled out and the Indian team is unlikely to make changes to the XI that played against Pakistan on October 14.

Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

Bangladesh

Bangladesh XI is a big puzzle with the skipper's availability under a cloud. Out of form Tanzid Hasan could make way at the top to Mehidy Hasan Miraz who could be promoted as an opener. Tanzim Hasan Sakib may also get a look-in.

Probable XI: Litton Das, Tanzid Tamim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan* (c), Mushifiqur Rahim (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam

What they said:

"Ask me about it man. It has been tough. I thought the last few years, a couple of years, it has been really tough. It is tough to miss someone like Bumrah. You have seen him in the last three games that he has played, what he brings to the table, he is a world class bowler. He gives you that breakthrough that you require in the power plays. He's well adapted to bowl in the middle overs and he's a top gun dead bowler." - Paras Mhambrey on Jasprit Bumrah's value to the team

"I think Virat Kohli is the guy for me that you think about the night before, or two days out, because that's how we value his scalp." - Bangladesh bowling coach Allan Donald on the biggest fish in the opposition camp.

Squads:

India Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin

Bangladesh Squad: Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed