Tigers take on India to kick off Champions Trophy today

In a bid to make a winning start to the Champions Trophy, Bangladesh face off mighty sub-continent opponents India at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

The match starts at 3pm (Bangladesh time).

"A winning start always gives a momentum," Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain  Shanto said in a pre-match conference in Dubai on Wednesday. "So naturally the only  target is to make a good start by winning the game. We have to play our best cricket."

Bangladesh set a bold target to lift the Champions Trophy this time despite their ODI performance took a huge nosedive since the 2023 World Cup in India.

Considered an ODI giant, Bangladesh won just four in 12 matches they played  after the 2023 World Cup.

Even the experts didn't rate Bangladesh highly ahead of the Champions Trophy.  Legends like Ricky Ponting, AB de Villiers were straightforward in their  assessment, saying Bangladesh don't have the quality to stun the bigger  opponents in the cut-throat competition, where all matches are considered as  knock out game.

Bangladesh, pitted in Group A, also have to face off teams like New Zealand  and hosts Pakistan.

"We need to play as a unit. If we can play as a team, we can beat any  opponents on any day," Shanto argued.

"I think if you look at all eight teams, they are quality teams. And against  India, Pakistan, New Zealand, we have good memories." While the pundits wrote off Bangladesh's chance, Shanto's confidence stemmed  from their recent record against India. The Tigers won three out of five  encounters against the sub-continent rivals.

Moreover, there is no secret that the players remain highly pumped-up when  they play against India.

 "We won a couple of matches (against India) in recent times. Last year, when  we played against India in Bangladesh, we have some good memories from then.""But that is past, I think if we play well tomorrow and execute our plan, we will have a good match."

Overall Bangladesh and India played 41 ODIs, with India winning 32 and Bangladesh 8. One match was washed out.

But in ICC event, Bangladesh have never beaten India, since their landmark  victory in 2007 World Cup. That was the one and only time Bangladesh could beat India in global tournament.

The Tigers moved to the semifinal of the last Champions Trophy in 2017 in England, which remains their best result in an ICC event. Bangladesh,  however, lost the semifinal game to India by nine wickets.

India, later, were beaten by Pakistan in the final to squander the chance of lifting the trophy.

Shanto said the Dubai condition is another reason which gives them a confidence to beat India.

The slow pitch of Dubai is considered to be a Bangladesh-like pitch and India of late struggled in this kind of pitch.

"I think we have to play well in all departments-- batting, bowling,  fielding-- because I think the way we played the last few years in this  format, I think we have a good side," Shanto said.

"And as you mentioned the conditions are quite similar. I'm really confident  that we will prepare ourselves well. I hope for the best for tomorrow's  match."

Bangladesh squad:

Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Towhid Hridoy,  Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz,  Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum  Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Nahid Rana.