India's Champions Trophy Rivals Decoded: New Zealand Compact, Bangladesh Unpredictable And Pakistan...

Jasprit Bumrah's absence will certainly hurt India big time, but quality of batting and spin bowling will make Rohit Sharma's team one of the title contenders alongside South Africa and Pakistan. India will play Bangladesh on February 20 followed by Pakistan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 2. Here's a SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat) analysis of India's opposition in group stages 

BANGLADESH 

Strength: This is the format where Bangladesh are the strongest. They have been Asia Cup finalists, 2015 World Cup quarter-finalists. With seasoned players like Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim still around, the 'Tigers' can't be taken lightly.

The biggest strength is the number of multi-utility cricketers in their ranks like Soumya Sarkar, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, vice-captain Mehidy Hasan Miraj to name a few.

Weakness: Consistency has always been Bangladesh's bane against better oppositions. Someone like Litton Das couldn't make it to the Champions Trophy squad due to non-performance. With his ability to take the game back to the opposition, Litton would have been an asset in Powerplays but he misses out.

Shakib Al Hasan's prowess has been on the wane, but as they say, there is no substitute for experience. But after being suspended from bowling due to a suspect action, he couldn't have found a place just on his batting, which has deteriorated a bit.

Opportunity: Against India in Dubai, if the tracks are a bit on the slower side, then Bangladesh's spinners Mehidy and leg-break bowler Rishad Hossain will have a role to play. Not to forget Mustafizur Rahman, who has enough variations up his sleeve to trouble the batters.

Threat: Bangladesh have lost five of their last six ODIs against Afghanistan and the West