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India began their T20I series against Bangladesh with an emphatic performance, securing a convincing win by 7 wickets, chasing down Bangladesh’s modest total of 127 in just 11.5 overs. The match, held in Gwalior, marked a strong start for the hosts, as they dominated both with the ball and the bat.
Bangladesh’s Struggles with the Bat
Bangladesh, after being sent in to bat, found themselves in early trouble. Arshdeep Singh was exceptional with the new ball, dismantling Bangladesh’s top order. He removed both openers, Litton Das and Parvez Hossain Emon, cheaply, reducing Bangladesh to a precarious 14/2. Arshdeep’s disciplined bowling set the tone, and he ended with impressive figures of 3/14. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto fought back with a 27-run knock, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz top-scored with a resilient 35 off 32 deliveries. Despite their efforts, the middle-order failed to make significant contributions, leading to Bangladesh being bowled out for just 127 in 19.5 overs.
India’s bowling attack, led by Arshdeep, was well-supported by Varun Chakravarthy, who picked up 3/31, and Mayank Yadav, who chipped in with 1/21. Washington Sundar was extremely economical, giving away only 12 runs in his 4 overs while claiming a wicket. Hardik Pandya also contributed with the ball, taking a wicket towards the end of the innings.
India’s Blazing Response
Chasing 128, India’s batting was clinical from the start. Despite losing both openers—Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson—after solid contributions of 29 each, India never looked in trouble. The captain, Suryakumar Yadav, played a responsible innings, ensuring a steady chase, while Hardik Pandya provided the fireworks at the end.
Hardik, coming in with a modest target in sight, smashed his way to an unbeaten 39 off just 16 deliveries. His aggressive strokeplay ensured that India chased down the target with ease, securing victory with 49 balls to spare. His performance underlined his importance in the Indian setup, particularly in the shorter formats.
A Perfect Start for India
This comprehensive victory gives India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. With both their bowling and batting firing in unison, India will look to carry this momentum into the remaining matches. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will have to regroup and address their batting woes if they want to stay competitive in the series.
India’s dominance in this match highlights their depth and balance, with all departments performing well. The bowlers, especially Arshdeep and Varun Chakravarthy, laid the foundation, while the middle-order ensured a swift and successful chase.
What Lies Ahead
With two more games to go in the series, Bangladesh will need to find answers quickly. Their top order, in particular, will need to step up against India’s disciplined bowling. As for India, they will be keen to seal the series in the next match, with their eyes on maintaining consistency ahead of the upcoming tournaments.
This victory also showcased India’s strength in the T20 format, as they prepare for bigger challenges on the international stage.