An India ODI side without MS Dhoni is a bit like a cat without its nails - a little blunt and relatively inexperienced when it comes to the business end of the innings.
Where to Watch Live
Read the India vs Bangladesh report HERE
The game is scheduled for a 2 pm local time (1.30 pm IST, 8 am GMT, 3 am ET) start with live coverage on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports HD1 in India. The match can also be watched through live streaming online in India HERE. Viewers in Bangladesh can catch the action on Channel 9 and Star Life OK, while Pakistan viewers can do so on PTV Sport. Viewers in Pakistan can live stream the match HERE or HERE.
Catch the action in the US via Willow Sports, with the live streaming option HERE. Viewers in the UK can catch the Asia Cup on Star Life OK, with the video page of the channel website HERE. The match can be live streamed by Sri Lanka viewers HERE, while Australia viewers can catch the action live online HERE. Viewers in South Africa can watch the match on SuperSport with the live streaming option online available HERE.
Of course, the man replacing Dhoni at the helm is perhaps the most important player in the India team at the moment, and Virat Kohli will need to find that extraordinary gear, both with the bat and the mind, if India are to go all the way in this Asia Cup 2014.
First up for the former champions are Bangladesh, a team that is a bit low on confidence at the moment, but also a unit determined to go one better after falling in the final hurdle against Pakistan in the last Asia Cup.
"I have only been captain for about eight games till now," Kohli said after landing in Bangladesh earlier this week. "It went pretty good but this is a big tournament. It's a challenge I'm looking forward to. We have got a young group of guys and some exciting players.
"I think that excites me to have a group that I can have a chat with and be on the same page. It's important to have an understanding. It's really exciting for me to improve the record which is already good. I'm looking forward to the tournament."
India do have an exciting team, with the ability and effectiveness cranked up a few notches when the men in blue play in sub-continental conditions. The likes of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, who struggled for consistency in the ODI series against South Africa and New Zealand, will fancy their chances a lot more in Bangladesh environs.
The relatively toothless pitches for the fast bowlers, are wickets tailor-made for the India batsmen, who have shown their inability to consistently hit the same heights away from home.
"Obviously we are here to win the tournament," Kohli added. "We haven't just come here to play one game and go back home, that's not our aim."
For Bangladesh, it is about getting back into their groove after suffering a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Sri Lanka a few days ago. With several doubts hovering over India, Pakistan unpredictable as ever, and Sri Lanka not exactly hitting those heights while also being hampered by injuries, this is as good a time for Bangladesh as any to win the Asia Cup.
Starting with a victory, over one of the pre-tournament favourites India will be step one towards that goal. "We are playing at home where the support and conditions are known," Bangladesh all-rounder Mashrafe Mortaza said. "If we can come up with our best cricket I think we can fight it out.
"Everyone is excited, especially the younger players. They want to show something. We are playing at a major event, and I know that everyone is trying their best. If most of us perform, it is easier for us to win."
Bangladesh have beaten India a few times in the past, including in the previous edition of the Asia Cup in 2012, and Mashrafe insisted getting the better of their neighbours another time will be far from an eyebrow-raising event.
"I don't count it as an upset if we win against India," Mashrafe added. "We have done it before. They have been playing in different wickets in South Africa and New Zealand but do well in the sub-continent, and we know this well."
India need a win to banish those forgettable away tours against South Africa and New Zealand; Bangladesh will feel obligated to open their tournament with a victory in front of their home fans. So, it promises to be a cracker, and if the second match is anything like the first of the tournament, then those deep breaths better be taken before the delivery of the first ball.
Team news: India: With Dhoni ruled out, Dinesh Karthik will don the gloves, while his batting skills will also come into play due to a relatively inexperienced middle order. This will be the first time that India take field in an ODI match without Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina or Dhoni in their lineup, and time is ripe for the likes of Ambati Rayudu and Ajinkya Rahane to step up, while Cheteshwar Pujara will want to show he also belongs in the shorter formats.
Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan is set to miss the first two matches of the Asia Cup through suspension, while Imrul Kayes will push for a place up the order. Mahmudullah could make way for Ziaur Rahman.
Expected lineups: India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Varun Aaron.
Bangladesh: Shamsur Rahman, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Naeem Islam, Nasir Hossain, Ziaur Rahman, Mashrafe Mortaza, Sohag Gazi, Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain.
