Bangladesh concluded their T20 World Cup preparations with a heavy defeat, losing by 60 runs to India at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. This loss underscored persistent issues in Bangladesh's batting lineup and highlighted India's strong form ahead of the tournament.
India, choosing to bat first after winning the toss, amassed a challenging total of 182-5. Rishabh Pant, making a notable return after a serious accident 18 months ago, scored a rapid 53 off 32 balls before retiring hurt. His innings featured four fours and four sixes, laying a solid foundation for India. Hardik Pandya added a brisk unbeaten 40 off 23 balls, with two fours and four sixes, ensuring a strong finish for the team.
Bangladesh had early success with Shoriful Islam dismissing Sanju Samson for 1. However, Pant and captain Rohit Sharma stabilized the innings with a 48-run partnership. Mahmudullah Riyad broke through by taking Rohit's wicket, who scored 23 off 19 balls. Tanvir Islam dismissed Suryakumar Yadav for 31 off 18 balls, but India's depth allowed them to maintain a high scoring rate, with Pandya providing a powerful finish.
Chasing 183, Bangladesh faltered early and never recovered. Arshdeep Singh struck first, removing Soumya Sarkar for a second-ball duck and later dismissing Liton Das for 6. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto also fell for a duck, caught by Hardik Pandya off Mohammad Siraj, leaving Bangladesh struggling at 17-3.
Despite some resistance from Tanzid Hasan Tamim (17) and Towhid Hridoy (13), both were dismissed in quick succession, plunging Bangladesh to 41-5 by the ninth over. A brief recovery came through a 70-run partnership between Mahmudullah Riyad (40 off 28 balls) and Shakib Al Hasan (28 off 34 balls), but it was insufficient to mount a serious challenge.
Mahmudullah retired after his effort, and Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Shakib, sealing Bangladesh's fate. The lower-order batsmen, including Jaker Ali Anik and Mahedi Hasan, failed to make an impact, culminating in Bangladesh being restricted to 122-9 in their 20 overs.
This defeat highlighted significant flaws in Bangladesh's batting lineup, raising concerns ahead of the T20 World Cup. India's performance, especially with Pant and Pandya in form, showcased their depth and readiness for the tournament. Bangladesh will need to address their top-order vulnerabilities and improve their overall batting approach to be competitive in the World Cup.
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