Mustafizur is still a puzzle but India desperate to finish season with a win, says Ashwin

After losing the ODI series to Bangladesh with a match to go, a win in the third and final game is the only way for India to salvage some pride and confidence.

Sports Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 23 June 2015, 03:35 PM
Updated : 23 June 2015, 09:32 PM

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side are desperate for a victory in Wednesday’s day-night match, said India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Tuesday.
 
The match is set to start at 3pm local time at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
 
The number 2 ranked ODI side are still winless on the tour.
 
A draw in the rain-marred Test which India dominated was followed by two heavy defeats in one-dayers – first a loss by 79 runs and the second by six wickets.
 
“A win is what we would like to achieve. It’s the end of the season for us, so if we can cap it off with a win, it would be good,” the lanky off-spinner said at a pre-match press conference.
 
India, however, have had a reasonably successful season despite a slide towards the end of it.
 
“We have had a good season to be honest, we have won more than 75 percent of the games in the last season and that’s what we are looking to continue,” 
 
‘Can we kidnap Mustafiz?’
 
Mustafizur Rahman has been an enigma to Indian batsmen in the one-day series so far.
 
With a world record-breaking 11 wickets under his belt in his first two ODIs, the new Bangladesh pace sensation has been the chief tormenter for the tourists.
 

His variations of slowers and cutters ripped through the famed Indian batting lineup as the Tigers bowled the visitors out on both occasions.
Skipper Dhoni had said after the second game that they had no answer to Mustafiz. The tall Indian spinner also shared his captain’s view.
“If there is no counter, then what can we do? Can we kidnap him? We have to come out there and play some good and solid cricket, and try and make sure to nullify the (threat),” Ashwin said.
With two successive five-wicket hauls, the Tigers’ 19-year old seamer also equalled the record of Zimbabwe’s Brian Vitori. 
“He does play a good cutter we have to watch out for. We have to give him the respect as well.
“Respect is what is important in international cricket,” said an impressed Ashwin.
Ashwin, however, thinks the boy from Satkhira is only beginning a difficult journey fraught with challenges.
“But I think the challenge starts here for him. As an international cricketer I would know it much better than anybody else. People are going to watch out for him.”