India, Jan. 13 -- India and Bangladesh cricket began as a bridge, not a battleground. Bangladesh entered Test cricket in 2000 against India, and the debut created an enduring subtext: India as the neighbour with experience, Bangladesh as the new entrant determined to belong.

A quarter-century later, the relationship has matured into a rivalry - intense, emotional, often decided by inches. Now it has drifted into a rare territory: the T20 World Cup 2026 travel dispute, where logistics and perception threaten to overshadow the sport.

The early years were defined by asymmetry. India had depth, experience, and the stars. Bangladesh were building the habit of top-level cricket. India's involvement in Bangladesh's first Test played India insi...