by 
India’s Arshdeep Singh and returning Varun Chakravarthy shook Bangladesh’s batting to deliver a dominant seven-wicket win to the hosts in the first T20 international on Sunday.
Left-arm quick Arshdeep and spinner Chakravarthy took three wickets to help bowl out Bangladesh for 127, India’s revised total with 49 balls to spare in Gwalior and lead the three-match series 1-0.
This was India’s first victory in this format at home after being crowned champions of the T20 World Cup in Barbados in June.
Opener Sanju Samson and skipper Suryakumar Yadav – both scoring 29 – began the chase with a blazing stand of 40 for the second wicket to calm down the opposition attack.
Samson, a wicketkeeper-batsman, hit six boundaries, but Suryakumar ignited the home crowd with his 14-ball knock laced with two fours and three sixes.
Suryakumar smashed Mustafizur Rahman for a six over long-on but fell to the next ball caught at long-off.
Hardik Pandya then clubbed 39 from 16 balls with five fours and two sixes, sharing an unbeaten stand of 52 with debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy, who made 16.
But it was the Indian bowlers who made an impression after the hosts opted to bowl first and Arshdeep backed up his captain’s decision with two wickets in three overs.
Litton Das topped a fishing delivery from Arshdeep to be caught at close range and soon his compatriot Parvez Hossain Emon placed the ball inside on his stumps.
Fast debutant Mayank Yadav – an IPL pace sensation who turned heads with deliveries over 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour, started with a first maiden, then struck in his second to dismiss Mahmudullah Riyad for A.
Wickets continued to fall and Chakravarthy, who returned to the team after the 2021 T20 World Cup, delivered regular blows with his mysterious spin to rattle the opposition middle order.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz fought hard with an unbeaten 35 but found little support and Arshdeep finished the innings in 19.5 overs.
Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, came into the T20 matches after a 2-0 defeat in the Tests.
The next match will take place on Wednesday in the Indian capital, New Delhi.
fk/dj
