In a decisive match held in Delhi, India emerged victorious against Bangladesh by a significant margin of 86 runs, effectively securing a series win. India posted a formidable 221 runs for the loss of nine wickets, propelled by noteworthy performances from Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rinku Singh, who scored 74 and 53 runs, respectively. The Indian bowlers followed suit, limiting Bangladesh to just 135 runs for nine wickets, largely driven by Mahmudullah, who contributed 41 runs, alongside Varun Chakravarthy and Reddy, both of whom claimed two wickets.
The contest began with a toss that, while seemingly inconsequential, set the tone for the innings. Bangladesh opted to chase, believing that the dew later in the evening would aid their batting, while India chose to bat first to challenge their bowlers under these conditions. Bangladesh opened their bowling attack with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, whose initial arm balls did not meet expectations and were swiftly capitalized on by Sanju Samson. The pitch at the outset displayed a certain tackiness that made batting challenging, leading to early wickets for India. Samson and Suryakumar Yadav were dismissed due to cautious shots that fell victim to the slowness of the pitch, while Abhishek Sharma succumbed to Tanzim Hasan's delivery.
In the face of early setbacks, Reddy seized the opportunity to build a partnership with Rinku Singh. Reddy, however, experienced some fortune during his innings, being dropped early on by Litton Das off a delivery from Tanzim. Nevertheless, Reddy showed resilience and grew into his innings, fortuitously surviving a close lbw decision. His innings consisted of a six from a free hit, courtesy of a no-ball by Mahmudullah, which showcased his ability to capitalize on chances.
As India settled into their innings, the floodgates opened against the Bangladesh bowlers, particularly their spin attack. Rishad Hossain, a promising legspinner, faced a barrage of shots from Rinku, who employed various sweeps to devastating effect. Errors in length allowed Reddy and Rinku to score freely, leading to a pivotal 24-run over that propelled India past the 100-run mark. Mehidy Hasan’s inability to disrupt Reddy’s rhythm culminated in an arduous 13th over, which yielded 26 runs. Despite Reddy flirting with a hundred in only his second T20I match, a slower ball delivered by Mustafizur ultimately ended his innings at 74 runs off just 34 balls.
Bangladesh's spinners faced immense pressure throughout the innings, with Hardik Pandya entering the fray and providing no relief to Rishad’s struggles. Rinku steadily progressed to his half-century, maintaining a strike rate that testified to his ability to rotate the strike effectively while delivering crucial contributions to the scoreboard. India continued looking for aggressive runs, but with a flurry of wickets falling towards the end, they maintained a respectable total that set a daunting target for Bangladesh.
In their response, Bangladesh faced the monumental challenge of chasing down a T20I total beyond their historical limits, having never surpassed 215 runs in the format. Their innings got off to a tentative start, marked by risky shots that ultimately cost them dearly. As players fell at regular intervals, Bangladesh found themselves in dire straits at 46 for 4 after seven overs. Notable dismissals included Parvez Hossain falling for an Arshdeep Dilshad delivery, Washington Sundar’s dismissal of Najmul Hossain Shanto in consecutive matches, and Varun Chakravarthy proving too formidable for Litton Das.
The Indian bowlers showcased their depth, with seven different bowlers each claiming wickets, indicative of a well-rounded bowling effort. The match concluded with a stunning catch from Hardik Pandya that encapsulated India’s dominance, confirming their prowess in both batting and bowling throughout the series.
This victory not only highlights India's strength but also underscores the challenges Bangladesh faces in T20 cricket when the stakes are raised. With a blend of skilled batting, particularly from Reddy and Rinku, alongside a disciplined bowling attack, India has underlined its status as a formidable opponent in international cricket, particularly in the T20 format.