India made a confident start in the T20 series against Bangladesh, cruising to a convincing seven-wicket win in the first match with 49 balls to spare. After a stellar bowling performance that restricted Bangladesh to just 127 runs, the Men in Blue chased down the target with relative ease.
Bangladesh Face Early Setbacks
Winning the toss, India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav opted to bowl first, a decision that paid off handsomely. Right from the start, Arshdeep Singh set the tone with his fiery spell. He struck early, sending Litton Das packing for just four runs and then quickly followed it up by dismissing Parvez Hossain Emon. At 13/2, Bangladesh were already on the back foot.
Despite a decent effort from skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy – a 26-run partnership, the highest of the innings – Bangladesh struggled to form any significant association. Once the Powerplay ended, wickets fell at regular intervals, leaving the visitors in dire straits.
Debutant fast bowler Mayank Yadav made his mark by bowling a maiden in his first over and claiming Mahmudullah’s wicket. But it was Varun Chakaravarthy who stole the spotlight, bouncing back from a shaky start to bag three wickets for 31 runs. Arshdeep finished with impressive figures of 3/14, cleaning up the tail with precision. Mehidy Hasan Miraz provided a glimmer of hope for Bangladesh, remaining unbeaten on 35 runs, but his team could only muster a modest 127 runs before being bowled out.
India’s Chase: Smooth Sailing
Chasing a target of 128 runs, India’s openers got off to a solid start, looking composed at the crease. However, a moment of miscommunication led to Abhishek Sharma’s run-out for 16, giving Bangladesh a brief opportunity to fight back. But any hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed as the Indian batters maintained their aggressive approach.
With contributions coming from both sides, the chase was well-paced and confident. Hardik Pandya stepped up to finish the innings with flair, smashing a four and a six to seal the deal. India reached their target in just 11.5 overs, showcasing their batting depth and determination.
India’s comprehensive victory not only gave them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series but also highlighted their strengths in both bowling and batting. Arshdeep’s precision and Varun Chakaravarthy’s impressive control kept Bangladesh at bay, while Pandya’s explosive finish reminded everyone of his class.