CWC 2023, Match 17: Bangladesh-India, Played at Maharashtra Cricket Stadium Bengaluru, India on 19th October,2023.
Bangladesh 256/8 (Litton K Das 66, Tanzid Hasan Tamim 51, Mahmudullah Riad 46, Mushfiqur Rahim 38, Ravindra Jadeja 2/38, Jasprit Bumrah 2/41, Mohammad Siraj 2/60)
India 261/3 in 41.3 Overs (Virat Kohli 103*, Shubman Gill 53, Rohit Sharma 48, KL Rahul 34*)
India won by 7 wickets with 51 balls to spare
Player of the match: Virat Kohli
Displaying a wonderful brand of all round cricket team India outplayed Bangladesh in the virtually one-sided affair yesterday at MCA Bangaluru. Bangladesh was unfortunate not getting the services of their captain and ace all rounder as the team did not risk him play without recovering from injury.
Bangladesh playing to the best of their ability against probing Indian bowling scored 256 /8 for major contribution of major openers, veterans Mahmudullah Riad and Mushfiqur Rahim. But the target set appeared 50 runs too less. It was a popular view that a better planned Bangladesh batting could let them score 310-320.Very strong Indian batting made it a cake walk as four of their top guns fired. India cruised across the target scoring 261/3 with 51 balls to spare. Winning four in four India remained the only second team of the ten teams apart from New Zealand maintaining clean sheet in CWC 2023. The semifinal dream of Bangladesh losing three of their four matches appears all but over. There is nothing to disagree that this Bangladesh team is not capable of winning against India in India at this moment. The hype created was not realistic.
Winning the toss and electing to bat on an easy pace wicket having lost of runs Bangladesh made a cautious start. Young Tanzid Tamim playing some delightful strokes made his first ever half century (51) in international cricket in 43 balls. His innings included 5 glorious four and 3 sixes. His partner Litton also displayed good looking innings of 66. The first wicket partnership after a while gave a solid start of 93 runs scored of 14.4 Overs. Bangladesh could have served better if one of them preferably Litton could bat deep as Indian bowlers once managing to break the partnership laid siege. Bangladesh also planned their batting poorly. Bangladesh batting had a hole with Shakib not available. Shanto and Mehedy Miraj were blown away. Suddenly 1/93 became 4/137. One such a day against formidable opponent two of their more accomplished Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riad must have batted at higher order. It is golden rule that best technically equipped inform batters must get the opportunity of playing most balls. If Mushfique and Mahmudullah could bat at four and five above Mehidy Miraj and Tawhid Hridoy Bangladesh could have produced more competitive score. Meraj and Tawhid looked fishes out of water. Bangladesh innings completely lost the momentum. Mushfique coming to bat as low as 6 tried to resurrect. But he fell to a brilliant catch by Ravindra Jadeja at point of Bumrah scoring 38. Mahmudullah looked in great touch. Slotted at number seven he produced some elegant strokes and guiding the tailenders led the team bat for 50 overs soring 256/8. He fell to a brilliant yorker by Jasprit Bumrah after scoring 46 in 36 deliveries.
In Bangladesh batting order he must bat now below number 5 if Bangladesh plan to set up winning scores. On the easy paced Bangaluru wicket Indian bowlers bowled exceedingly well. They were a bit handicapped as Hardik Pandya got injured and left the field. But premiere bowlers Ravindra Jadeja (2/38), Bumrah (2/41) set the squeeze. Mohammad Siraj (2/60) was a little expensive. With whatever batting resources Bangladesh possessed Bangladesh should have scored around 300 runs if they had proper plan and purpose with their batting. On such a wicket against very well organized strong Indian batting Bangladesh score was too less to challenge.
Yet Bangladesh could create some contest if they could take some early wickets. But rollicking Rohit (48 in 40 balls) and sizzling Shubman (53 in 55 deliveries) set a secured platform for team India producing 88 in 12.4 overs. The difference of the two teams were that India had a world class performer champion Virat Kohli (103*) to steer the ship and great aid KL Rahul (34 *) to cake walk Bangladesh set target. Bangladesh on the other hand fell apart after similar start. The point to take note that India fielded superbly yesterday. KL Rahul behind the wicket and Jadeja anywhere close or deep looked like roaring cheetah. India looks all set for a crack at the championship.
Bangladesh openers after a while looked great. But the plans of team management were not understood. A team must utilize its batting resources must more smartly. Bangladesh lost three matches on the trot against major oppositions England, New Zealand, and India. They still have 5 more matches to play. The lack of far sight and imagination of not having an extra batter in the squad was nakedly exposed yesterday. Bangladesh had to play with one batsman less against the strongest team. The day when Bangladesh had a great opening partnership middle order failed. Team management owes an explanation. The makeshift Captain perhaps did not go beyond team strategy.
Bangladesh must take a lesson or two from the way Indian premiere batsmen batted. Virat played yet another innings of class and quality. Once settled he did not throw it away. Rohit and Gill ensured that they set a platform for middle order to consolidate. Bangladesh must learn and learn quick. Otherwise, team tigers cannot perform consistently in the top league.
BDST: 0709 HRS, OCT 20, 2023
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