The FIFA rankings show a 47-place difference between India and Bangladesh, yet that gap has not dampened Bangladesh’s belief ahead of today’s (Tuesday) clash in Dhaka. In the latest update, BAN climbed one spot to 183rd, while India slipped two places to 136th.
Despite the disparity, Bangladesh’s recent 0-0 draw against India in Shillong during the World Cup qualifiers has boosted morale. Under Hamza Chowdhury’s leadership, the squad feels fully prepared to take on the Indian side at home.
“Rankings don’t decide the outcome — performance on the pitch does,” one team official remarked ahead of kickoff.
The Bangladesh-India rivalry is decades old, but this encounter carries a fresh layer of excitement. They are desperate to end a 22-year drought, and memories of almost beating India in Kolkata six years ago still fuel belief. As both sides gear up to meet once again, it’s a fitting moment to revisit some unforgettable chapters of their footballing history.
A Rivalry Etched in Decades of Triumphs and Heartbreak
India’s Early Control
India and Bangladesh met for the first time at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok. They endured a painful debut, falling 3-0 with goals from Videsh Bose, Harjinder Singh, and Xavier Pia. The losses continued in the next Asian Games in New Delhi, followed by three more defeats.
One of the most crushing results came in the 1997 SAFF Championship group stage in Kathmandu. They held strong until the 74th minute, before IM Vijayan scored twice in three minutes, and Bhaichung Bhutia added another.
Bangladesh’s First Major Breakthrough
A turning point arrived on December 26, 1991, when Ban claimed their first-ever win against India at the SAFF Games in Colombo, triumphing 2-1 at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
Both goals came from Rumi Rizvi Kalim, with Godfrey Pereira pulling one back late in the 88th minute. Still, Bangladesh celebrated a historic victory that remains etched in their football history.
Progress Mixed With Pain
Bangladesh has often come close to victory but fallen short. Six years ago, at the Salt Lake Stadium, they were leading before settling for a 1-1 draw. Similar patterns appeared in the 1985 World Cup qualifiers, where Ashish Bhadra’s opener could not prevent a 2-1 defeat.
There were also four matches in which they took the lead but ended with draws — in the 1989 Islamabad SAFF Games, 2013 SAFF Championship, 2014 Goa friendly, and 2019 Kolkata qualifiers.
“We’ve improved a lot, but moments of hesitation have cost us big matches,” a former Bangladesh player reflected.
Intense Atmosphere On and Off the Field
Bangladesh-India encounters have often spilled beyond the pitch. In the 1985 SAFF final in Dhaka, the game was temporarily halted after heated crowd reactions following a 1-1 draw, which led BAN to lose in the tiebreaker.
In the 2005 Karachi SAFF Championship, tensions ran high again, prompting India’s PK Banerjee and Bangladesh coach Andreas Cruciani to calm the crowd jointly.
Tiebreakers: A Chapter of Disappointment
On both occasions when the rivalry went to penalties, BAN were on the losing side.
- 1985 Dhaka SAFF final: 1-1 (regular + ET), Bangladesh lost 4-1 in penalties.
- 1995 Colombo SAARC Gold Cup semi-final: Goalless draw, BAN lost 4-2 in the shootout.
The Last Victories
Bangladesh last defeated India 22 years ago, during the semifinal of the 2003 SAFF Championship in Dhaka. A golden goal from Matiur Rahman Munnar sealed the win in extra time.
India’s most recent victory came in 2021, beating BAN 2-0 in the World Cup qualifiers in Doha. Their two following meetings both ended in draws.
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