India may have emerged victorious, but Bangladesh's fighting spirit was undeniable
As cricket fans gear up for yet another T20I clash between India and Bangladesh, excitement is palpable. The action begins in Gwalior on October 6, and the atmosphere is electric. However, some notable absentees from India's lineup, like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant, are missing from this series. India's dominance over Bangladesh in T20Is is known, having won 13 out of their 14 encounters. Bangladesh's sole victory is etched in memory, but today, we'll recall a significant match: the first time these two sides faced off in T20 cricket during the 2009 T20 World Cup.
Gautam Gambhir skilfully executes a pull shot with a quick swivel // Picture Courtesy -- ESPN Cricinfo
A historic beginning in Nottingham
It was June 6, 2009, when India and Bangladesh locked horns for the first time in a T20 international at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. India, led by Gautam Gambhir's fifty and Yuvraj Singh's destructive late innings, set a commanding total 180 for 5. Yuvraj Singh's explosive cameo lit up the latter half of India's innings. After a steady start by Gautam Gambhir (50) and Rohit Sharma (36), who laid the foundation with a solid partnership, Yuvraj took the game away from Bangladesh. Smashing Naeem Islam for three sixes in four balls and then punishing Rubel Hossain with a six and two fours in the next over, Yuvraj's 41 off 18 balls striking at 227.77 set the stage for India's imposing total.
Yuvraj Singh sends the ball racing to the boundary with a stunning four behind square leg // Picture Courtesy -- ESPN Cricinfo
Skipper MS Dhoni also added 26 from 21 balls (1 six). Having clawed their way back in the middle overs, Bangladesh saw their hard work undone by Yuvraj's brutal display of power hitting. Suresh Raina also contributed 10 off 8 balls, Yusuf Pathan remained unbeaten on 1, and Irfan Pathan smashed 11 off 3 balls (1 four, 1 six), giving the innings a final push.
Irfan Pathan's explosive finish in the final over delivered 11 runs off just three balls for India // Picture Courtesy -- ESPN Cricinfo
Bangladesh's resilient start and spirited fightback
Bangladesh put up a spirited fight, especially in the beginning. After India's Gambhir and Rohit built a strong platform, Bangladesh fought back admirably through their bowlers. Shakib Al Hasan bowled brilliantly, slowing down India's momentum during the middle overs, giving away only 17 runs in his three-over spell. Mohammad Ashraful and Rubel Hossain also played key roles in containing India, ensuring they couldn't fully capitalise on the explosive start until Yuvraj's late charge brought India back on track.
Bangladesh's early hope
Junaid Siddique was the shining light in Bangladesh's response. He took on India's bowling attack with audacity, pulling the very first ball he faced from Irfan Pathan for a six and maintaining an aggressive approach throughout. Bangladesh had raced to 20 runs in just two overs, and Siddique's sixes and boundaries off Zaheer Khan and Yusuf Pathan kept the Tigers in the hunt. However, the fall of Tamim Iqbal (15) and Ashraful (11) derailed their momentum, and Siddique was left to rebuild alongside Shakib.
Pragyan Ojha marked his Twenty20 debut with a memorable performance // Picture Courtesy -- ESPN Cricinfo
Ojha's magic
If Yuvraj's batting pushed India forward, it was Pragyan Ojha's bowling that sealed the deal. Introduced in the 11th over, Ojha's left-arm spin wreaked havoc on the Bangladeshi batting order. His very first delivery in T20 internationals saw Shakib Al Hasan top-edge a pull, and his fifth delivery dismissed the dangerous Junaid Siddique, who had kept Bangladesh in the hunt. With figures of 4 for 21, Ojha's spell crippled Bangladesh's chase, transforming a competitive game into an uphill battle for the Tigers.
Just when Bangladesh seemed to be keeping pace, Ojha's introduction swung the game decisively in India's favour. His dismissals of Shakib and Siddique within his first over crippled Bangladesh's chase. From then on, India's fielding, led by Yuvraj's two diving catches and disciplined bowling, made sure that Bangladesh couldn't recover. The Tigers managed only 81 runs after Ojha's spell, and India wrapped up a professional win, becoming the first team in the tournament to defend a target successfully. It was a memorable start to their T20 rivalry. Despite Junaid Siddique's valiant effort, Bangladesh fell short by 25 runs, managing 155 for 8. Ishant Sharma also took two wickets, while Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan chipped in with one wicket each.
Having won 13 of their 14 encounters, India has established clear dominance over Bangladesh. As the upcoming series approaches, India will be keen to extend their impressive winning streak and maintain supremacy.
