World Cup 2015: Bangladesh stand between India and a semi-final spot

India

The Indian cricket team, led by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been in phenomenal form, winning six out of six games in the group stage.

Dhoni, who made an unbeaten 45 against West Indies and a a brilliant 85 not out against Zimbabwe, has led the team to 10 consecutive World Cup wins, surpassing Clive Lloyd's streak of nine win for West Indies.

Shikhar Dhawan hit an aggressive century when India recorded their fifth victory in a row at the World Cup with a thumping eight-wicket win over Ireland.

Vice-captain Virat Kohli too has been impressive so far, contributing when it mattered.

The pick of the bowlers for India has been Mohammed Shami who has taken 15 wickets in the pool matches so far. he has extracted steep bounce with an impeccable line and length throughout the six games.

New Zealand

New Zealand is currently the only unbeaten side in Pool A, a record shared by India in Pool B.

The team has three of the top four wicket takers in the tournament, with Trent Boult and Tim Southee equal second on 13 and spinner Daniel Vettori a spot further back with 12.

The Brendon McCullum-led side displayed an aggressive mindset throughout the tournament and is ready to face the West Indies.

Skipper Brendon McCullum has been scoring easy runs off the bat to lead by example.

Australia

Mitchell Starc is the leading wicket taker for Australuia.

The 25-year-old left-armer currently leads the wickets tally at the tournament with 16 scalps at the end of the pool phase, one ahead of a clutch of bowlers with 15, but with an eye-popping average of 8.50.

Starc's pace, bounce and variation could prove a handful for Pakistan when the teams clash in the quarter-finals.

Australia's swashbuckling one-day cricketer Glenn Maxwell has been in a terrific form during the ongoing World Cup, registering three of the five fastest 50s by an Australian in the tournament's history.

Maxwell wasn't a certainty to be included in Australia's World Cup squad but has certainly proven his value, when belted 102 from 51 during Australia's 64-run win over Sri Lanka.

Pakistan

Pakistani batsman Sarfraz Ahmed scored Pakistan's first World Cup century since 2007.

The wicketkeeper returned unbeaten on 101 to emulate Imran Nazir's 160 against Zimbabwe in Jamaica in 2007, the last hundred hit by a Pakistani batsman in a World Cup.

The 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman shone bright with 124-ball knock, which was studded with six fours.

Pakistan have now won four games in a row after losing their first two matches against India and the West Indies, and captain Misbah-ul-Haq hoped the team will build on the momentum gained.

Left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz has taken 14 wickets in the World Cup so far and has been spearheading the Pakistan pace attack.

Sri Lanka

The veteran wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara has been in sensational form with the bat at this World Cup. He became the first man to score hundreds in four successive ODIs with innings of 105 not out against Bangladesh, 117 not out against England, 104 against Australia and 124 against Scotland.

A left-hander with a supreme ability to pace an innings, the 37-year-old plans to retire from ODI cricket after the World Cup.

Sri Lanka are desperate for his run-spree to continue but cricket common sense suggests he is due a low score soon.

South Africa will feel like they've taken two wickets if he goes cheaply.

South Africa

AB de Villiers hasn't had a real batting failure during the tournament, and scored an unbeaten 162 against the West Indies in Sydney and 99 in the last group game against the United Arab Emirates.

His last innings at the SCG was a staggering 162 not out which included the quickest 150 in an ODI, off just 64 balls, against the West Indies in a pool match.

Blessed with stunning hand-eye co-ordination he is capable of improvising the unlikeliest of shots.

But the question for de Villiers, as it is for South Africa, is can he produce his best in the pressure of a knockout match?

In a press conference, he insisted that his side will not choke when they try to end their World Cup knockout misery.

Bangladesh: Mohammad Mahmudullah is finally fulfilling his promise as a match-winning batsman.

He scored his first ODI hundred, a brilliant 103 against England which sent Bangladesh through to the World Cup quarter-finals and the English home.

Post his last-over heroics in the win against England, Rubel Hossain has turned overnight into a hero and from Heath Streak to coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, everyone has been very protective about the bowler.

Shakib al Hasan, currently ranked the world's top all-rounder said Bangladesh were adopting the same approach they had in 2007 in the hope of producing another major upset.

West Indies

West Indies captain Jason Holder has so far done everything he could to further his team's cause.

Holder was appointed the West Indies' youngest captain at 23 by board chairman Clive Lloyd after playing only 21 one-day internationals.

The West Indies grabbed the fourth spot from Pool B with six points, the same as Ireland,but went through to the final-eight stage on better run-rate.

Chris Gayle, 35, has had a roller-coaster tournament, averaging 14 over the last 20 months.

Despite a world record 215 against Zimbabwe, has managed just 64 runs in his other four innings.

West Indies will bank on the swashbuckling batsman to fancy their chances further in the world cup.

World Cup 2015: Bangladesh stand between India and a semi-final spot

In the most recent clash between the sides, at Dhaka in June 2014, India successfully defended a total of 105, bowling Bangladesh out for 58.

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