India ticked a number of packing containers throughout their 60-run victory over Bangladesh within the T20 World Cup warm-up match right here on Saturday, however none bolder than a fifty by Rishabh Pant, which has all however sealed his place because the first-choice wicketkeeper batter within the ICC showpiece.
Pant’s 53 (32b, 4×4, 4×6), who was making his India comeback after that horrific automobile accident in December 2022, and Hardik Pandya’s equally pleasing 40 (not out, 23b, 2×4, 4×6) led India to a aggressive 182 for 5 after opting to bat first.
India confronted little hassle in defending the whole as left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh discovered his bowling wares, main the restriction of Bangladesh to 122 for 9.
AS IT HAPPENED | INDIA VS BANGLADESH T20 WORLD CUP WARM-UP HIGHLIGHTS
There was a token fightback from Mahmudullah Riyaz (40 retired out; 28b, 4×4, 1×6) and Shakib Al Hasan (28), who milked 75 runs for the sixth wicket.
But it surely helped Bangladesh solely to cut back the margin of defeat after it was diminished to 41 for 5.
Arshdeep, who had a lower than passable outing within the IPL for Punjab Kings, struck twice contained in the PowerPlay, ousting Soumya Sarkar, caught behind by Pant, and Litton Das, who was bowled by a stunning in-curler from over the wicket.
Fellow pacer Mohammed Siraj added the wicket of Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (0) as they slipped to 10 for 3 in 3.5 overs, and it was too deep a gap to claw again towards a reliable bowling unit, which has good selection by way of the ranks.
The Indian bowlers additionally confirmed wonderful expertise to use a gradual pitch, which was additionally aided by an equally sluggish outfield the place the ball didn’t roll alongside. Pacer Shivam Dube additionally chipped in with two wickets (2/11).
For Bangladesh, the defeat was a continuation of its gloomy build-up to the World Cup, as they’d not too long ago misplaced the three-match T20I sequence towards the USA 1-2.
The insipid batting effort by Bangladesh additionally offered a greater perspective on the innings of Pant and Pandya earlier.
It was its gumption that led India to an above-par rating on a gradual pitch, and one thing that can come very useful as soon as India embraces the match correct from June 5 with a match towards Eire at this venue.
Pant retired after making 53, however not earlier than nullifying a plethora of Bangladeshi gradual bowlers.
However the knock has actually given him an edge over Sanju Samson within the perceived competitors for the wicketkeeper-batter slot.
Samson got here in because the opener forward of Yashasvi Jaiswal together with skipper Rohit Sharma (23, 19b, 2×4, 1×6) as Virat Kohli, who was anticipated to open, skipped the match after he arrived right here solely on Friday.
Nevertheless, Samson, who had a high quality run within the IPL for the Rajasthan Royals, was trapped in entrance of the wicket for a 6-ball 1 by left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam as he struggled to return to phrases with the character of the monitor.
There have been additionally useful contributions by Suryakumar Yadav (31, 18b, 4×4) and Pandya (40) as India moved to a aggressive complete regardless of not having any single huge partnership in its innings.
However the major architect of that preventing complete was Pant.
Pant, who returned to aggressive cricket throughout the IPL 2024, had proven wonderful contact for Delhi Capitals whereas making 287 runs from 13 matches with three fifties and at a strike-rate of 155.
The left-hander continued his high quality contact right here too, carting Bangladesh bowlers round.
There have been these typical Pant pictures, that are onerous to explain, similar to a stand-still flick off medium-pacer Soumya to fine-leg for a boundary or that one-handed six whereas he was out of stability off off-spinner Mahmudullah Riyadh.
Pant, who smashed Shakib Al Hasan for 2 successive sixes, introduced his fifty in 32 balls with a boundary off Shakib earlier than retiring to the pavilion.
Dube, who was dropped on 4, couldn’t exploit the let-off and was dismissed for a 16-ball 14; at that stage, India was 130 for 4 after 14.4 overs.
India was in want of some acceleration, and Pandya offered simply that.
Pandya, who was dropped on 26, slammed three consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam, which have been a deal with to observe for his or her energy and neat execution.
His innings and confidence might need immensely happy the workforce 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.