In a dazzling display of cricketing excellence, India showcased why they are considered the reigning T20 champions with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh at the newly inaugurated Gwalior stadium on Sunday. The match saw India’s bowling and batting departments firing in unison, leaving the visitors struggling to keep pace.
Arshdeep Singh and Varun CV spearheaded India’s bowling attack, each claiming three wickets, to dismantle Bangladesh’s batting line-up. The visitors were restricted to a modest total of 127 runs, with wickets falling in quick succession as they faced an uphill battle right from the start.
The tone was set early in the match when Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to chase, a decision that paid dividends almost immediately. Bangladesh’s opener, Litton Das, found himself back in the pavilion in the very first over after a top-edge off a delivery from Arshdeep Singh was safely caught by Rinku Singh. This early breakthrough put India firmly in control, setting the stage for a determined bowling performance.
Despite the early setback, debutant Pervez Hossein Emon attempted to counterattack with a stunning flicked six off Hardik Pandya in the second over. However, his resistance was short-lived as he played on from an Arshdeep delivery in the third over, leaving Bangladesh reeling at a critical juncture.
The much-anticipated debut of fast bowler Mayank Yadav commenced with a maiden over during the PowerPlay, applying pressure on Bangladesh’s Towhid Hridoy. The pressure culminated in a crucial dismissal, with Varun CV enticed Hridoy into a risky shot that was smartly caught by Hardik Pandya at long on. Mayank’s impressive pace and accuracy, reminiscent of his performances in this year’s IPL, yielded rich rewards as he claimed his maiden T20I wicket, dismissing Mahmudullah.
Bangladesh’s innings continued to unravel, with Varun CV cleaning up Jaker Ali with a deceptive googly, marking a sensational return to the national side with his best-ever T20I figures of 3/31. Mehidy Hasan Miraz put up some resistance, dragging Bangladesh past the 100-run mark, but a pivotal double-wicket over in the 18th halted any hopes of a late revival.
. Mayank added further pressure with a tidy three-run 19th over before Arshdeep closed out the innings, clean-bowling Mustafizur Rahman to finish with figures of 3/14.
Chasing a modest target of 128, India exhibited a batting masterclass during the PowerPlay. Sanju Samson initiated the onslaught with a graceful drive down the ground, while Abhishek Sharma announced a difficult evening for Bangladeshi bowler Taskin Ahmed by dispatching a straight six. Although Abhishek was run out in the second over, India had already amassed 15 runs in that over, underscoring their aggressive intent.
Suryakumar Yadav continued the assault, showcasing his signature, unconventional shot-making skills. He peppered the boundary with slaps for sixes behind square, targeting Taskin Ahmed throughout his innings. Despite Suryakumar’s dismissal in the sixth over, India breezed through the PowerPlay with 71/2 on the scoreboard, achieving their highest-ever PowerPlay score against Bangladesh in T20Is.
Sanju Samson departed soon after, but India remained relentless, surging to 106/3 by the halfway mark. Hardik Pandya then provided the finishing touches with panache, playing the shot of the match—a no-look ramp for a four off Taskin, followed by another boundary and a towering six to seal the victory. Pandya remained unbeaten on 39 off just 16 deliveries, wrapping up the chase in a mere 11.5 overs.
In conclusion, India’s comprehensive triumph highlighted their dominance in the T20 format, with both bat and ball working seamlessly to outplay Bangladesh. The ease with which India chased down the target exemplified their prowess and sets the tone for what promises to be an exciting series. Bangladesh, meanwhile, will look to regroup and strategize as they aim to bounce back from this resounding defeat.