In this article, we will discuss India’s commanding victory over Bangladesh in Antigua during the T20 World Cup 2024. India posted a formidable total of 196 for 5, driven by significant contributions from Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, and Virat Kohli. Despite the challenging pitch conditions, India’s aggressive batting strategy paid off.
Bangladesh’s response was thwarted by disciplined Indian bowling, particularly from Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah, who restricted Bangladesh to 146 for 8, securing a 50-run victory for India. This win potentially places India in the semi-finals, contingent on Australia’s match against Afghanistan.
India’s middle order, packed with powerful hitters, compensated by posting competitive totals. A moment of confusion between Sharma and Kohli while running between the wickets epitomized their unsettled performance. However, the team hopes this hiccup won’t derail their campaign, relying on the explosive middle-order batsmen to navigate challenging conditions.
Rishabh Pant ignited the innings just when India seemed to stall at 77 for 3 after a flurry of quick wickets. A stretch of nine boundary-less balls indicated the challenging batting conditions, exacerbated by a sluggish pitch and outfield. Pant, initially cautious at 12 off 15, suddenly switched gears, hitting five boundaries in eight balls.
His audacious stroke play, especially a forceful cover drive against Mustafizur, showcased raw power. Despite his eventual dismissal while seeking another boundary, Pant’s aggression provided the necessary momentum.
Hardik Pandya then took charge to lift India from a precarious 120 for 4 at the 15th over mark. Starting slowly at 6 off 7, he capitalized on a loose delivery from Mahedi Hasan to unleash his power. Known for his immense core and forearm strength.
It was evident how well Hardik could hit even yorkers for boundaries. Even though he approached the crease in the twelfth over, he made sure to get a well-earned fifty with a few fast runs towards the end, including four boundaries in the final two overs.
Rishad Hossain emerged as a standout player for Bangladesh. Previously overlooked due to Bangladesh’s traditional skepticism towards wrist spinners, Rishad’s performances in this World Cup have been noteworthy. His dismissal of Pant marked Bangladesh’s best phase, enforcing tight bowling with singles and dots between the 12th and 15th overs. He also claimed two key wickets of attacking batsmen, Pant and Dube, demonstrating his fearless approach even during the death overs.
Tanzim Hasan also impressed as Bangladesh’s best bowler. His unpredictability troubled Indian batsmen, including Kohli, who misjudged a slower ball. Tanzim’s mix of slower balls and deliveries with extra bounce kept the batsmen on their toes. Despite some resistance, his clever variations and strategic use of the pitch’s characteristics earned him deserved praise.
Bangladesh’s top order, struggling with form, managed only 13 runs from their openers in the last five innings. Chasing a big total, their early setbacks proved costly. Tanzid Hasan, coming off consecutive ducks, labored to a slow score, and Litton Das fell during the powerplay to a deceptive slower ball from Hardik Pandya, who smartly induced a mis-hit caught at deep midwicket.
At 67 for 2 after 10 overs, Bangladesh seemed positioned to challenge but crumbled against Kuldeep Yadav. The spinner’s variations, including a googly that deceived Tanzid and a leg break that trapped Towhid Hridoy lbw, dismantled their middle order. Kuldeep also outsmarted Shakib Al Hasan, altering his line to force a mistimed shot caught at cover.
Despite Bangladesh attacking more deliveries than India (49 to 48), their approach often appeared panicked. The inability to read Kuldeep’s deliveries further compounded their woes. Jasprit Bumrah’s disciplined bowling, yielding 15 dot balls and two crucial wickets, also restricted Bangladesh’s scoring opportunities, highlighting the importance of clarity and composure in T20 cricket.
India – 196/5 (20.0)
Bangladesh –146/8 (20.0)
Result – India won by 50 runs
Player of the match – Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya
India | Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah |
Bangladesh | Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib |
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