Indian cricket team displayed impressive all-round performance to thrash Bangladesh by 60 runs in the T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up match in New York on Saturday, June 1. In their final preparations for the World Cup, Rishabh Pant and Arshdeep Singh made the biggest impact to boost India’s confidence ahead of their opening game against Ireland on June 5.
Rishabh top-scored with 53 runs off 32 balls and Hardik Pandya added quick unbeaten 40 runs to help India score a total of 182/5 in 20 overs. Then in-form pacer Arshdeep Singh took two early big wickets and Shivam Dube displayed his bowling skills to restrict Bangladesh to 122/9.
As expected, the star batter Virat Kohli missed out on the game despite joining the team a day ago and being present at the ground during the toss. Fans were surprised to see Yashasvi Jaiswal also missing out on India’s batting starting eleven with Sanju Samson given a chance to open an inning with skipper Rohit Sharma.
Rohit won the toss and elected to bat first in the first-ever game at this new ground. Samson departed after scoring just one run but India dominated powerplay overs with Rohit and Rishabh adding 48 runs for the second wicket.
India kept the runs flowing with Rishabh top-scoring with 53 runs off just 32 balls to indirectly confirm his place in the preferred playing eleven for the World Cup games. Rohit fell after scoring 23 runs but India kept the momentum by their side with Hardik Pandya and Suryakyumar Yadav adding crucial runs in the closing stages.
Shivam Dube struggled to make an impact but Pandya remained unbeaten on 40 off just 23 balls to power India to a big total. Spinner Mahedi Hasan bagged one wicket for 22 but Shakib Al Hasan and Tanvir Islam proved costly once again.
Arshdeep Singh then gave India a perfect start by dismissing Soumya Sarkar on a duck in the very first over. Asrdeep then bowled out big man Litton Dad in the third over to give India early control of the game.
Bangladesh witnessed further collapse with Mohammed Siraj removing skipper Najmul Shanto and Axar Patel claiming the big wicket of Towid Hridoy. The veteran batters Shakib and Mahmudullah tried to frustrate Indian bowlers in the middle over by adding 70 runs for the sixth wicket but India made a late comeback.
Hardik struggled with a ball but Dube displayed his bowling skills by taking two late wickets while leaking just 13 runs in his three overs. Mahmudullah top-scored with 40 runs and Shakib added 28 runs for Bangladesh side.