Bangladesh vs India: The hottest Asian rivalry?
India vs Bangladesh has had send-offs, shoulder-barges, conspiracy theories, fake fielding - the works
Dustin Silgardo
18-Oct-2023
Forget India vs Pakistan, or even Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka; Bangladesh vs India has produced more flashpoints than them all since the turn of the century, the rivalry cutting across age groups and gender.
2007: Mortaza gives Kumble some downtime
Before the first ever World Cup meeting between the two sides, Anil Kumble bumped into a 23-year-old Mashrafe Mortaza and joked that India wouldn't have much time between the World Cup, which ended April 28, and their tour of Bangladesh, which began on May 10. Mortaza was annoyed that Kumble simply assumed India would go deep in the tournament. It fired him up, and his two early wickets meant India were on their way to winding up their campaign in March and having a month to prepare for that Bangladesh tour.
Before the first ever World Cup meeting between the two sides, Anil Kumble bumped into a 23-year-old Mashrafe Mortaza and joked that India wouldn't have much time between the World Cup, which ended April 28, and their tour of Bangladesh, which began on May 10. Mortaza was annoyed that Kumble simply assumed India would go deep in the tournament. It fired him up, and his two early wickets meant India were on their way to winding up their campaign in March and having a month to prepare for that Bangladesh tour.
2010: Sehwag calls Bangladesh "ordinary"
On India's 2010 tour of Bangladesh, their stand-in captain, Virender Sehwag, infuriated Bangladesh with this quote: "Bangladesh are an ordinary side. They can't beat India because they can't take 20 wickets." Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons warned Sehwag that his words might come back to bite him. While India did win both Tests, they lost 18 wickets in the first. Sehwag was booed at the grounds.
On India's 2010 tour of Bangladesh, their stand-in captain, Virender Sehwag, infuriated Bangladesh with this quote: "Bangladesh are an ordinary side. They can't beat India because they can't take 20 wickets." Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons warned Sehwag that his words might come back to bite him. While India did win both Tests, they lost 18 wickets in the first. Sehwag was booed at the grounds.
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2011: Did Kohli think Rubel Hossain was Ben Stokes?
Apparently, Kohli and Rubel had been feuding since their Under-19 days. At the 2011 World Cup, during his century against Bangladesh, Kohli mouthed something at Rubel that lip-readers were sure was his oft-repeated catchphrase - the same one, as the joke goes, some Hindi speakers might hear if you were to mumble the words "Ben Stokes". Rubel let Kohli off with a stare but remembered the moment...
Apparently, Kohli and Rubel had been feuding since their Under-19 days. At the 2011 World Cup, during his century against Bangladesh, Kohli mouthed something at Rubel that lip-readers were sure was his oft-repeated catchphrase - the same one, as the joke goes, some Hindi speakers might hear if you were to mumble the words "Ben Stokes". Rubel let Kohli off with a stare but remembered the moment...
2015: Rubel's revenge
At the next World Cup, Rubel would dismiss Kohli and give him a send-off four years in the making. But that wasn't even close to the biggest controversy from that game...
At the next World Cup, Rubel would dismiss Kohli and give him a send-off four years in the making. But that wasn't even close to the biggest controversy from that game...
2015: No-ball? No holding back
During a crucial stage of that 2015 World Cup clash, Rohit Sharma, who would go on to score 137, pulled a full toss straight to deep midwicket but survived as the umpires called a no-ball on height. Replays suggested that was not so. Bangladesh fans protested, suggesting there was a conspiracy against them, BCB president Nazmul Hassan wanted to lodge an appeal, even the ICC president himself, Mustafa Kamal, insinuated the umpires were biased. It was all-out pandemonium.
During a crucial stage of that 2015 World Cup clash, Rohit Sharma, who would go on to score 137, pulled a full toss straight to deep midwicket but survived as the umpires called a no-ball on height. Replays suggested that was not so. Bangladesh fans protested, suggesting there was a conspiracy against them, BCB president Nazmul Hassan wanted to lodge an appeal, even the ICC president himself, Mustafa Kamal, insinuated the umpires were biased. It was all-out pandemonium.
2015: Dhoni and Mustafizur collide... literally
During Bangladesh's 2-1 home ODI series win against India, Mustafizur Rahman was on the receiving end of a strong barge from MS Dhoni. Rohit had earlier complained of Mustafizur deliberately walking into the batters' path when they were running between the wickets, and it seems Dhoni decided that if Mustafizur wouldn't move, he'd do the moving for him.
During Bangladesh's 2-1 home ODI series win against India, Mustafizur Rahman was on the receiving end of a strong barge from MS Dhoni. Rohit had earlier complained of Mustafizur deliberately walking into the batters' path when they were running between the wickets, and it seems Dhoni decided that if Mustafizur wouldn't move, he'd do the moving for him.
2016: 'Don't celebrate too early'
In a key Super 10s game at the 2016 T20 World Cup, the game came down to the last over. Two boundaries brought Bangladesh to within two runs of victory - that is, within two runs of registering their first T20I win over India, and knocking them out of another World Cup while they were at it - and Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah were already celebrating. But a hat-trick of wickets gave India a one-run win. After the game, Suresh Raina tweeted this: "Don't give up till the end. Don't celebrate before you win!"
In a key Super 10s game at the 2016 T20 World Cup, the game came down to the last over. Two boundaries brought Bangladesh to within two runs of victory - that is, within two runs of registering their first T20I win over India, and knocking them out of another World Cup while they were at it - and Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah were already celebrating. But a hat-trick of wickets gave India a one-run win. After the game, Suresh Raina tweeted this: "Don't give up till the end. Don't celebrate before you win!"
Don't give up till the end Don't celebrate before you win! #IndvsBan Wat a gamepic.twitter.com/bej9uAk39W
— Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) March 23, 2016
2016: Mushfiqur's schadenfreude
Mushfiqur did not seem to take kindly to that Raina tweet. When India were eventually eliminated from the tournament, in the semi-finals, he tweeted and then deleted this: "Happiness is this'.!!! #ha ha ha..!!!! India lost in the semifinal." He did later apologise and said he was actually just happy for West Indies.
Mushfiqur did not seem to take kindly to that Raina tweet. When India were eventually eliminated from the tournament, in the semi-finals, he tweeted and then deleted this: "Happiness is this'.!!! #ha ha ha..!!!! India lost in the semifinal." He did later apologise and said he was actually just happy for West Indies.
2020: The next generation joins the rivalry
India and Bangladesh met in the Under-19 World Cup final, and when Bangladesh won, their fired-up players stormed the field and celebrated in the faces of the Indians, sparking ugly scenes. Bangladesh captain Akbar Ali apologised for his team, while India captain Priyam Garg called the reaction "dirty".
India and Bangladesh met in the Under-19 World Cup final, and when Bangladesh won, their fired-up players stormed the field and celebrated in the faces of the Indians, sparking ugly scenes. Bangladesh captain Akbar Ali apologised for his team, while India captain Priyam Garg called the reaction "dirty".
2022: Things get slippery
Rain interrupted the sides' game at the 2022 T20 World Cup, in Adelaide. While Rohit was keen to restart play, Bangladesh captain Shakib was seen arguing with the umpires, seemingly insisting conditions were too wet. When the players got back on the field, Litton Das slipped while turning and was run out.
Rain interrupted the sides' game at the 2022 T20 World Cup, in Adelaide. While Rohit was keen to restart play, Bangladesh captain Shakib was seen arguing with the umpires, seemingly insisting conditions were too wet. When the players got back on the field, Litton Das slipped while turning and was run out.
2022: Kohli the umpire, Kohli the mime
During India's innings of the same game, Kohli had signalled a no-ball for height before the umpired called it, leading to a long conversation with Shakib. During the chase, Kohli faked a throw, which the Bangladesh players later pointed out was against the rules and should have led to five penalty runs. India ended up winning by exactly five runs via DLS.
During India's innings of the same game, Kohli had signalled a no-ball for height before the umpired called it, leading to a long conversation with Shakib. During the chase, Kohli faked a throw, which the Bangladesh players later pointed out was against the rules and should have led to five penalty runs. India ended up winning by exactly five runs via DLS.
2023: Harmanpreet lashes out
After the deciding ODI of India women's tour of Bangladesh ended in a tie, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur had an outburst calling the umpiring during the series "pathetic". During the trophy presentation, she sarcastically invited the Bangladeshi umpires to join in, insinuating they were the reason the trophy was being shared. Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana in turn slammed Harmanpreet for showing "bad manners".
After the deciding ODI of India women's tour of Bangladesh ended in a tie, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur had an outburst calling the umpiring during the series "pathetic". During the trophy presentation, she sarcastically invited the Bangladeshi umpires to join in, insinuating they were the reason the trophy was being shared. Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana in turn slammed Harmanpreet for showing "bad manners".
Dustin Silgardo is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo