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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 at a new venue hosting their first international match.
“We just tried to put forward our skills and what we decided in the team meeting, we just walked the talk,” Suryakumar said.
“The way the guys showed their character on the field, playing for the first time on a new pitch, and the way we batted, showed our character.”
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.
“In T20s, the first six overs are very important but we didn’t start well,” said Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto. “We need a better plan for the next matches.”
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 kept falling 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 on an unbeaten 35 but found little support and Arshdeep, named player of the match, finished the innings in 19.5 overs.
Bangladesh 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.
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