In what was a powerful demonstration of their T20 prowess, India executed a commanding seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh at the newly inaugurated cricket venue in Gwalior this past Sunday. This triumphant display came off the back of excellent performances both with the bat and ball, truly justifying their status as T20 champions earlier this year.
The match commenced with Suryakumar Yadav winning the toss, opting to chase. This strategic decision paved the way for India’s bowlers to come forward and restrict Bangladesh to a modest total. Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy were the chief architects in dismantling the Bangladesh batting lineup, each claiming three wickets. Bangladesh’s innings culminated at a below-par 127 runs, unable to recover from a shaky start.
Things started to unravel quickly for Bangladesh. Litton Das, hoping to set an aggressive tone from the outset, found his aggression counterproductive when he mistimed a shot off Arshdeep Singh’s bowling, the ball spiraling into the safe hands of Rinku Singh. This early blow set the tone for a lethargic Bangladesh innings where momentum was hard to grasp. Though debutant opener Pervez Hossein Emon offered a brief glimmer of hope with a beautifully flicked six off Hardik Pandya in the second over, Arshdeep Singh returned to snatch his wicket soon after, leaving Bangladesh tottering.
Highlighting India’s bowling attack was the much-awaited debut of Mayank Yadav. He marked his entry with remarkable flair, initiating his spell with a maiden over that augmented the pressure on Towhid Hridoy. Varun Chakravarthy capitalized on this pressure by promptly removing Hridoy, a reward well-earned for his consistency. Yadav, replicating his pace and precision seen in the IPL, captured his first T20 international wicket by dismissing Mahmudullah in his second over.
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Bangladesh’s wickets continued to fall in regular intervals. Jaker Ali fell victim to Varun’s crafty googly, opening the floodgates for an impressive bowling performance that saw Varun return to the national squad with figures of 3/31 – his personal best. Mehidy Hasan Miraz attempted to stabilize the innings, pushing the team score past the 100-run mark, but late damage in the form of a double-wicket over in the 18th further clipped their wings. Mayank Yadav wrapped up a brilliant debut by restricting runs in the penultimate over, after which Arshdeep polished off the tail by dismissing Mustafizur Rahman, completing figures of 3/14.
With a modest target set, India’s chase was nothing short of spectacular. An initial surge during the PowerPlay showcased their intent, as Sanju Samson initiated proceedings with a glorious drive, followed by Abhishek Sharma troubling Taskin Ahmed with a commanding six straight down the ground. Despite losing Abhishek to a run-out in the second over, India had already plundered 15 runs, illustrating their relentless pursuit of the target.
Suryakumar Yadav took charge with flair, executing his trademark unorthodox shots that left the bowlers, particularly Taskin, searching for answers. By the end of the sixth over, the Indian batsmen had amassed 71/2 in the PowerPlay, marking their highest score against Bangladesh in T20Is and seizing over half the set target.
Though Samson too departed soon after, India remained resolutely aggressive, reaching 106/3 by the midway point of the innings. The finishing touches were provided by Hardik Pandya, who delivered a resounding climax with a stylish no-look ramp shot for a four, followed by a boundary and a six to seal the game in the 12th over. He ended with a brisk 39 not out from just 16 deliveries, exemplifying India’s depth and dominance.
In summary, India’s all-around performance saw them comfortably surpass Bangladesh’s tally with ample deliveries in hand, securing a 1-0 lead in the series. Their clinical display in both innings sets the tone for the remainder of the matches, establishing their reputation as formidable T20 champions, while Bangladesh is left to reconsider their strategy before the next encounter.