Hardik Pandya Showcases Flair With No-look Shot During India’s Win Over Bangladesh In 1st T20I

The Indian cricket team delivered a resounding performance against Bangladesh in the first T20I of the three-match series, securing a comprehensive seven-wicket win in Gwalior on Sunday, October 6. Held at the newly inaugurated Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, which hosted its first international game, the match witnessed India dominating with both bat and ball. Chasing a modest target of 128, India achieved victory with ease, reaching the target in just 11.5 overs, leaving 49 balls to spare—their largest win in T20 internationals in terms of balls remaining.

This decisive victory was marked by spectacular bowling from India’s pace attack, followed by a powerful batting display led by Hardik Pandya, whose audacious “no-look” shot went viral, capturing the imagination of fans and further asserting India’s dominance.

India’s Bowlers Dominate to Restrict Bangladesh

The tone of the match was set early on by India’s bowlers, who consistently applied pressure and restricted Bangladesh to a total of 127/8 in their 20 overs. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was the star of the show, picking up 3/14, including the vital early wickets of openers Litton Das and Parvez Hossain Emon. His exceptional swing bowling left Bangladesh reeling and struggling to recover.

Supporting Arshdeep was mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who claimed 3/31 and caused headaches for Bangladesh’s middle order. Chakravarthy’s ability to mix up his deliveries, with subtle variations in pace and flight, resulted in crucial breakthroughs at critical junctures of the match. Debutant Mayank Yadav, making his first appearance for India, also impressed with his raw pace, taking 1/21 in his four overs and building pressure on Bangladesh’s batters.

Despite some resilience from Najmul Hossain Shanto (27 off 25 balls) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (35 off 32), Bangladesh’s innings lacked the firepower to mount a significant challenge. Their inability to form substantial partnerships, coupled with the disciplined Indian bowling, resulted in a sub-par total that was never going to trouble a strong Indian batting lineup.

Hardik Pandya’s No-Look Shot: A Moment of Brilliance

One of the most talked-about moments of the match came during India’s chase when Hardik Pandya unleashed an audacious “no-look” boundary off Taskin Ahmed. Known for his flair and confidence, Pandya was in sublime form, smashing an unbeaten 39 off just 16 balls. However, it was the no-look shot in the 12th over that stole the show.

Facing a back-of-a-length delivery from Taskin, Pandya nonchalantly ramped the ball over the wicketkeeper’s head for four, without even bothering to look at where the ball was going. The shot was a perfect example of Pandya’s confidence and skill, and it quickly went viral on social media, earning widespread praise. This shot, along with three consecutive boundaries in that over, epitomized Pandya’s fearless approach to batting and solidified his status as one of the most dangerous players in white-ball cricket.

Pandya’s innings was instrumental in sealing India’s victory, as he finished the game in style, smashing a six off Taskin to conclude the chase with ease. His knock not only secured the win but also provided the perfect finishing touch to a dominant performance.

Bangladesh’s Batting Falters Under Pressure

Bangladesh’s innings got off to a shaky start and never really recovered, thanks in large part to India’s disciplined bowling attack. Litton Das, one of Bangladesh’s most experienced batters, was dismissed for just 5 runs, and Parvez Hossain Emon fell soon after for a duck, leaving Bangladesh in trouble at 11/2. Arshdeep Singh’s brilliant new-ball spell laid the foundation for India’s control over the game.

Bangladesh’s middle order offered some resistance, with Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz attempting to stabilize the innings. Shanto’s cautious 27 off 25 balls included a few well-timed shots, but he struggled to rotate the strike consistently. Mehidy, meanwhile, looked more aggressive, hitting three boundaries and a six in his 35-run knock. However, both batters fell at crucial stages, unable to push Bangladesh to a competitive total.

The lower-order batters, including captain Shakib Al Hasan, couldn’t provide the late acceleration that Bangladesh desperately needed. Shakib, who has often been Bangladesh’s match-winner in T20Is, was dismissed for just 11 runs, and Bangladesh could only muster 127/8 by the end of their innings. With wickets falling regularly and no batter able to anchor the innings, Bangladesh was left well short of a total that could challenge India’s powerful batting lineup.

India’s Top Order Cruises in Chase

India’s chase was clinical, with the top order making light work of Bangladesh’s bowling attack. Despite the early loss of Yashasvi Jaiswal for 12 runs, India’s batters never looked in trouble. Suryakumar Yadav, fresh off a successful run in the recent series, played a quickfire knock of 29 off 18 balls. His aggressive approach, combined with his ability to find gaps in the field, ensured that India kept the run rate well above the required mark.

Sanju Samson, who has been in and out of India’s T20 squad, also contributed with a fluent 29 off 19 balls. His knock included four boundaries, and he shared a valuable partnership with Suryakumar before falling to a well-placed delivery from Mahedi Hasan. Despite the wickets, India’s batsmen looked in control throughout, never allowing Bangladesh’s bowlers to settle into any sort of rhythm.

It was Hardik Pandya’s finishing fireworks that ultimately sealed the deal, as he took on Bangladesh’s pace attack with ease. His unbeaten 39 off 16 balls ensured that India completed the chase with 49 balls to spare, marking a record win in terms of balls remaining for the Indian T20I side.

Debutant Mayank Yadav Impresses with Pace

While Hardik Pandya’s batting and India’s clinical chase grabbed the headlines, the debut of Mayank Yadav was a notable highlight of the match. The young pacer, who was handed his debut cap ahead of the game, made an immediate impact, bowling with pace and precision. He consistently clocked speeds over 140 km/h and troubled the Bangladesh batters with his skiddy deliveries.

Mayank finished with figures of 1/21 in his four overs, picking up the crucial wicket of Towhid Hridoy, who was looking to accelerate the innings. His impressive performance on debut will give India’s selectors more options in the fast-bowling department, as they continue to build a strong bowling attack ahead of future T20I assignments.

Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Stadium Inaugurated with a Spectacular Match

This match also held significance as it marked the first international game to be held at the newly inaugurated Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior. The stadium, named after the former royal family of Gwalior, was filled to capacity as cricket fans in the region enjoyed a historic occasion.

With modern facilities and a stunning atmosphere, the stadium proved to be a perfect host for this high-profile match. Fans were treated to some spectacular cricket, with India’s dominant performance and Hardik Pandya’s viral shot becoming the highlights of the day. As the stadium made its international debut, it will now be remembered for hosting India’s largest T20I win in terms of balls remaining—a fitting beginning to its legacy.

India Takes a 1-0 Lead in the Series

With this emphatic victory, India has taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. The comprehensive nature of the win, both in terms of bowling and batting, showcased India’s depth and strength in the shortest format of the game. The team will now look to carry this momentum into the remaining matches, with the second T20I scheduled to be played at Nagpur.

For Bangladesh, the focus will be on regrouping and addressing the issues with their batting lineup. They will need to find ways to counter India’s bowling attack and post more competitive totals if they hope to bounce back in the series. With two matches still to be played, the series remains open, but India’s dominant performance in the first game has certainly set the tone.

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