Asia Cup Live Cricket Score: Bangladesh Tigers look Virat Kohli-led India in the eye

Embarrassed in South Africa and New Zealand, regional powerhouse India would hope for a turnaround under a new captain when they take on a troubled Bangladesh in their Asia Cup opener here on Wednesday. (We'll not take Bangladesh lightly, says Dinesh Karthik)

For the five-time champions India, the build up to the 12th edition of the regional tournament has been quite similar to that of 2012 when they landed here on the back of eight successive Test defeats in England and Australia.

Now they have come here after losing to South Africa 0-1 in Tests and 0-2 in ODIs. They suffered similar humiliation at the hands of New Zealand. The world champion side capped their two overseas tours with four successive defeats in ODIs.
However, playing against an opponent, who are struggling with their own set of problems and against whom they enjoy a good record, India would hope to finally notch up their first win in the 2014 calender.

Bangladesh's attacking opener Tamim Iqbal has been ruled out of the event because of a neck strain and their all-rounder Shakib-Al-Hasan will also miss the action against India due to his two-match ban for showing lewd gestures on live TV. (Read more)

Beating India is no longer an upset, says Mashrafe Mortaza

Bangladesh's premier pacer Mashrafe Mortaza on Tuesday said that beating a heavyweight Indian cricket team is no longer considered as an "upset" as the hosts have defeated them on a few occasions in the near past including the last edition of Asia Cup. "I don't count a win against India as an upset. We have done it before. They are a good team in sub-continent. We have that in our mind," the 30-year-old said ahead of their Asia Cup opener against India on Wednesday. (Read more)

Sourav Ganguly's advice to Virat Kohli

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly wants Virat Kohli to win the Asia Cup, which he believes would help regular skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to come out of his comfort zone and reinvent himself as a captain.

"I want Virat (Kohli) to win this tournament (Asia Cup)," Ganguly told a news channel on Tuesday.

"This would help Dhoni to come out of the comfort zone and help him to reinvent himself as a captain," he explained. Rubbishing suggestions that it would be a test for Kohli as a captain, Ganguly said the Delhi batsman should enjoy captaincy and prove his strengths to the selectors.

"It would be inappropriate to say that Kohli would be under pressure in the Asia Cup because even he knows that Dhoni would be the captain in the Twenty20 World Cup. So I would advice him to enjoy his captaincy and prove his strengths as a captain," Ganguly said