New York: In a warmup match ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup, India clinched a commanding 60-run victory over Bangladesh here on Saturday.
Bangladesh, chasing a formidable target of 183, struggled to gain momentum and were restricted to 122/9 in their 20 overs.
India’s innings had a shaky start with Sanju Samson falling early for just 1 run. Despite a promising start, Rohit Sharma was dismissed shortly after the powerplay, scoring 23 off 19 balls, including two boundaries and a six.
The spotlight shone brightly on Rishabh Pant, making a spectacular return to international cricket. He played with remarkable ease and aggression, particularly against the spinners, smashing a quickfire 53 off 32 balls, adorned with four boundaries and four sixes, before retiring out. His performance was a much-needed boost for the Indian side.
While Shivam Dube (14) and Ravindra Jadeja (4*) had less impressive outings, Suryakumar Yadav (31 off 18, 4x4s) and Hardik Pandya (40* off 23, 2x4s, 4x6s) shone brightly.
Suryakumar hinted at a return to form, while Hardik’s powerful hitting was the highlight of the innings. He particularly dominated the spinners, taking Tanvir Islam for three consecutive sixes in a single over.
Bangladesh’s Mahedi Hasan stood out with his economical bowling, taking one wicket for just 22 runs in his four overs, as India posted a challenging total of 182/5.
In response, Bangladesh faltered against a formidable Indian bowling attack. Arshdeep Singh struck early, taking two crucial wickets to dent Bangladesh’s chase.
The pressure was relentless, with Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah delivering impressive spells to keep the batsmen in check, ensuring a comprehensive win for the Men in Blue.
India’s performance in this warm-up match sets a positive tone as they head into the ICC T20 World Cup, showcasing both batting depth and bowling prowess.