Calcutta: Both Bengal and Assam are confident ahead of their Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 Trophy (zonal round) opener, at the Barabati, in Cuttack, on Wednesday.

However, both teams weren't quite able to finalise their XI, as there's a forecast of rain on Wednesday. The match-eve practice of both sides was affected because of rain. "There's a forecast of rain tomorrow. Hope it stays away and we have a full match," captain Laxmi Ratan Shukla said on Tuesday.

Bengal, though, have more or less decided that Wriddhiman Saha and Sreevats Goswami would open the innings, with Kanishk Seth likely to debut. "Both Wriddhi and Sreevats have proved their capabilities in the shorter version, especially Wriddhi who has carved out a special place for himself since last season. Even Sreevats got runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy," Shukla added.

On paper, Bengal, without doubt, appear to be a decent side with most bases covered. That said, their tendency to fumble under pressure and batsmen messing things up during any stage of the game are something that opponents have cashed in on.

In both Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Ranji Trophy, this tendency has cost Bengal dear at crucial moments.

Assam, too, must be aware of this aspect and plan accordingly. Bowling used to be their strength, but considering the fact that they managed to reach the Ranji quarter finals before losing to Karnataka, it only proves Assam are no longer dependent on their bowlers.

The likes of Dheeraj Jadhav and Arun Karthik are there to deliver with the bat.

In the other zonal round match, Odisha take on a struggling Tripura.