In a show of dominance befitting newly crowned champions, India’s T20 team showcased their prowess with a commanding seven-wicket triumph over Bangladesh, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. The match, held at the newly inaugurated stadium in Gwalior, saw stellar performances from both Indian bowlers and batsmen, delighting the home crowd on Sunday.
Winning the toss, India’s Suryakumar Yadav opted to field, a decision that quickly paid dividends. Bangladesh’s innings began on a shaky note as Litton Das’s early ambition backfired. In a bid to establish dominance from the outset, Das misjudged a delivery from Arshdeep Singh, lofting it into the safe hands of Rinku Singh in the opening over. The young fast bowler Arshdeep Singh, starting with formidable intent, once again struck in his very next over. This time, debutant Pervez Hossein Emon, who had briefly steadied the ship with a deft six off Hardik Pandya, found himself yielding when an angled delivery clipped his stumps, leaving his debut innings short-lived.
Meanwhile, Mayank Yadav’s much-anticipated debut on the international stage for India began impressively. Charging in with vigor during the PowerPlay, he not only kept the runs in check with a maiden over but also managed to escalate the pressure on Towhid Hridoy. Taking advantage of this pressure was Varun CV, returning to the international T20 circuit after a long hiatus of 86 matches. He deceived Hridoy into hitting a mistimed shot straight to Hardik Pandya at long on. Mayank, leveraging the intense pace that earned him plaudits in the IPL, clinched his maiden T20I wicket, dismissing the experienced Mahmudullah and further establishing his credentials.
However, Bangladesh’s innings continued to unravel. Varun CV spun a web that the visitors struggled to break free from. His cleverly delivered googly trapped Jaker Ali, earning him commendable figures of 3/31, marking a triumphant return to the national team setup. As nervy Bangladesh crept past the 100-run milestone courtesy of Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s resilient effort, their innings faltered further amidst a late collapse. Mayank, consolidating his debut performance, bowled a tight penultimate over conceding just three runs.
. The innings was wrapped up by Arshdeep, who sent Mustafizur Rahman’s stumps cartwheeling, finishing with an impressive 3/14 to restrain Bangladesh at 127 runs.
India’s response was as assertive and confident as the bowling display that preceded it. Sanju Samson initiated the chase with a series of elegant strokes, including a picture-perfect straight drive. Joining the attack, Abhishek Sharma announced his intent with a towering six over the bowler’s head, marking the start of a challenging evening for Bangladesh’s Taskin Ahmed. Although Abhishek’s blitz was cut short by a run-out, the Indian batsmen had already accumulated 15 runs off the second over, setting an aggressive tone for the chase.
Suryakumar Yadav, demonstrating his trademark unorthodox flair, delivered a series of breathtaking shots. Targeting the off-beat regions behind the wicket, Yadav unleashed his slap shots for consecutive sixes, brutalizing Taskin’s spell further. Despite eventually falling in the sixth over, Suryakumar left behind an explosive platform with India finishing the PowerPlay at 71/2 — a record score for India against Bangladesh in T20 internationals.
With half the target already surmounted, the Indian innings continued its relentless pace. Sanju Samson’s brief innings came to an end shortly after the PowerPlay, yet the run chase remain unperturbed. By the halfway mark, the score stood at a comfortable 106/3, leaving India needing only 22 runs for victory. Hardik Pandya then concluded the match with an emphatic display, selecting his moments with precision. His no-look ramp for four, combined with successive boundary hits, including a formidable six off a short ball, sealed India’s chase in just 11.5 overs with an unbeaten 39 off just 16 deliveries.
In summary, the match was an exhibition of India’s cricketing depth and strategic acumen, crafting a win that not only lived up to their championship status but also set the tone for the series ahead. Fans will be eagerly watching the forthcoming encounters as India looks to extend their advantage while Bangladesh regroups to challenge the home side more effectively.