Within the comfy 60-run win, India had a number of optimistic features, with Pant’s fifty being essentially the most vital.
Pant’s spectacular efficiency (53 off 32 balls, together with four fours and four sixes) and Hardik’s beneficial contribution with each bat and ball (40 not out off 23 balls, with 2 fours and four sixes) propelled India to a strong 182 for 5 after selecting to bat first.
Defending the full proved to be an easy process as left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh-led India restricted Bangladesh to 122 for 9.
Regardless of a short resistance from Mahmudullah Riyaz (40 retired out; 28b, 4×4, 1×6) and Shakib Al Hasan (28), who added 75 runs for the sixth wicket, Bangladesh may solely handle to scale back the margin of defeat after being diminished to 41 for 5.
As It Occurred
Arshdeep, who had a subpar IPL season with Punjab Kings, struck twice inside the Powerplay, dismissing Soumya Sarkar and Litton Das.
Mohammed Siraj added to Bangladesh’s woes by eradicating skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (0), leaving them reeling at 10 for 3 in 3.5 overs.
The Indian bowlers showcased their expertise in exploiting the gradual pitch and sluggish outfield, with pacer Shivam Dube additionally contributing two wickets (2/11).
Bangladesh’s lackluster batting efficiency highlighted the importance of Pant and Hardik’s innings.
Pant’s knock has seemingly secured his place because the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter for India within the World Cup, giving him an edge over Sanju Samson.
Samson, who opened the innings with skipper Rohit Sharma (23, 19b, 2×4, 1×6) instead of Virat Kohli, struggled to adapt to the pitch situations and was dismissed for a 6-ball 1 by left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam.
Suryakumar Yadav (31, 18b, 4×4) and Pandya (40) additionally made beneficial contributions to India’s aggressive whole.
Pant’s distinctive contact, which he displayed in the course of the IPL 2024 for Delhi Capitals, continued on this match as he performed his attribute photographs and introduced up his fifty in simply 32 balls.
Hardik, who was dropped on 26, supplied the required acceleration by smashing three consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam, showcasing his energy and execution.
His innings and confidence might need immensely happy the staff administration and himself after a modest outing as Mumbai Indians’ captain in a season the place he was subjected to intense skilled and private scrutiny.
Bangladesh additionally suffered an damage scare as Shoriful walked off simply earlier than bowling the ultimate ball of the innings, as Tanzim Hasan accomplished the over.
(With inputs from PTI)
