In a thrilling T20I match held at the newly inaugurated Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium on Sunday, India emerged victorious against Bangladesh by seven wickets. The encounter marked a significant milestone, as it was the first international cricket match in Gwalior in 14 years, showcasing the new stadium’s readiness for top-level competition.
India’s pace sensation Mayank Yadav made a remarkable entry into international cricket, while wrist spinner Varun Chakravarthy made a notable comeback after nearly three years away from the national team. Despite fielding two debutants and only three players from their T20 World Cup-winning squad, India dominated the match, effectively outplaying Bangladesh, who retained a near-identical lineup from the World Cup.
Bangladesh struggled to set a competitive target, bowled out for a mere 127 runs. Mayank Yadav shone with figures of 1/21, demonstrating exceptional pace right from his first spell. The 22-year-old, who had been sidelined for over five months due to a side strain, impressed observers by consistently delivering speeds between 145.7 kmph and 148.7 kmph. His breakthrough came when he dismissed veteran Mahmudullah, who edged a catch to Washington Sundar at deep point.
Chakravarthy also left a significant mark on the match, taking 3 wickets for 31 runs. He proved difficult for Bangladesh’s batters to handle, with a pivotal moment occurring when he bowled Jaker Ali with a sharply turning delivery. Despite a challenging start that saw him concede 15 runs in his first over, Chakravarthy rebounded by taking the crucial wicket of Towhid Hridoy, further derailing Bangladesh’s innings.
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As Bangladesh stumbled to 64 for five within the first 10 overs, India capitalized on the situation. Mayank returned to bowl later in the innings, showing resilience despite a few boundaries scored off his pace. He finished strong, delivering accurate yorkers to help seal Bangladesh’s fate.
Arshdeep Singh was another standout performer, claiming three wickets for just 14 runs. He effectively dismantled the Bangladesh opening partnership, taking out Litton Das and Parvez Hossain Emon during the powerplay and wrapping up the innings with his third wicket.
In reply, India chased down the target effortlessly, scoring 128 runs in just 11.5 overs. Contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (29), Sanju Samson (29), and an unbeaten 39 from Hardik Pandya led the charge for the victory, showcasing India’s depth in batting and their readiness for the challenges ahead.
