The skipper's fitness is a concern going into Wednesday's match against the sprightly hosts, who have built a reputation of being giant-slayers on more than one occasion.
Dhoni suffered a muscle spasm during the Indian team's training session on Monday, prompting the Board of Control for Cricket in India to rush Parthiv Patel as his back-up.
The continental championship will be played in the Twenty20 format this year, as against the usual 50-overs' format, keeping the forthcoming World T20 in mind and the need for Asian teams to get some much-needed match time before next month's marquee event.
The continental championship will be played in the Twenty20 format this year, as against the usual 50-overs' format, keeping the forthcoming World T20 in mind and the need for Asian teams to get some much-needed match time before next month's marquee event.
For India, who are considered title contenders, a good showing in the Asia Cup will give them the much-needed boost going into the World T20.
While Dhoni has always stated that 'revenge is a very strong word in sport', the Indians will be keen to get even with a strong Bangladesh side that beat them fair and square in a three-ODI series at the same venue last year under hostile circumstances with a partisan crowd backing their team.
While Dhoni has always stated that 'revenge is a very strong word in sport', the Indians will be keen to get even with a strong Bangladesh side that beat them fair and square in a three-ODI series at the same venue last year under hostile circumstances with a partisan crowd backing their team.
India started their preparation for the World T20 in right earnest, winning back-to-back series against Australia (away) and Sri Lanka at home.
In six T20 internationals played this year, India won five, the only defeat coming against Sri Lanka on an unusual Pune pitch in the last series.
IMAGE: India's players celebrate after winning the first T20I against Australia, in Melbourne, on January 29, 2016. Photograph: Zak Kaczmarek/Getty Images
India enter the final phase of their preparation for next month's World Twenty20 with the Asia Cup, starting on Wednesday, but a cloud of uncertainty over captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's availability threatens to disturb the side's momentum going into the tournament-opener against Bangladesh in Dhaka.
The skipper's fitness is a concern going into Wednesday's match against the sprightly hosts, who have built a reputation of being giant-slayers on more than one occasion.
The skipper's fitness is a concern going into Wednesday's match against the sprightly hosts, who have built a reputation of being giant-slayers on more than one occasion.
Dhoni suffered a muscle spasm during the Indian team's training session on Monday, prompting the Board of Control for Cricket in India to rush Parthiv Patel as his back-up.
The continental championship will be played in the Twenty20 format this year, as against the usual 50-overs' format, keeping the forthcoming World T20 in mind and the need for Asian teams to get some much-needed match time before next month's marquee event.
The continental championship will be played in the Twenty20 format this year, as against the usual 50-overs' format, keeping the forthcoming World T20 in mind and the need for Asian teams to get some much-needed match time before next month's marquee event.
For India, who are considered title contenders, a good showing in the Asia Cup will give them the much-needed boost going into the World T20. This was against the backdrop of the controversial decision involving India opener Rohit Sharma during the quarter-final of the 50-over World Cup in Melbourne last year.
The ODI series last year saw the emergence of left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who bamboozled the Indian batsmen with his variations.
The ODI series last year saw the emergence of left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who bamboozled the Indian batsmen with his variations.
This tournament will also give the Men in Blue an opportunity to crack the 'Mustafizur Code', having failed miserably the last time round.
IMAGE: Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman celebrates after claiming a wicket. Photograph: Bangladesh Cricket/Twitter
The Indians started their World T20 preparations in right earnest, winning back-to-back series against Australia and Sri Lanka at home.
In six T20 internationals played this year, India won five, the only defeat coming against Sri Lanka on an unusual Pune pitch in the last series.
If India reach the final of the Asia Cup, it will be another five T20 matches, taking the number of matches to 11 before the start of the World T20, and according to Team Director Ravi Shastri would be 'just what the doctor ordered'.
The team under Dhoni has looked quite settled in the shortest format but the real test starts with the Asia Cup as the business end of the preparations for the World T20 begins.
Momentum will be key from now on and Dhoni's men will be keen to seize the initial advantage even though it won't be easy by any means against a Bangladesh side, which will be more than a handful on home soil.
In six T20 internationals played this year, India won five, the only defeat coming against Sri Lanka on an unusual Pune pitch in the last series.
If India reach the final of the Asia Cup, it will be another five T20 matches, taking the number of matches to 11 before the start of the World T20, and according to Team Director Ravi Shastri would be 'just what the doctor ordered'.
The team under Dhoni has looked quite settled in the shortest format but the real test starts with the Asia Cup as the business end of the preparations for the World T20 begins.
Momentum will be key from now on and Dhoni's men will be keen to seize the initial advantage even though it won't be easy by any means against a Bangladesh side, which will be more than a handful on home soil.
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