IND vs BAN T20 World Cup 2024: Rishabh Pant stars as India beat Bangladesh in warm-up clash
The Indian cricket team won the match by 60 runs. Rishabh Pant scored the only fifty of the game.
Cricket
Powered by Rishabh Pant’s half-century, the Indian men’s cricket team defeated Bangladesh by 60 runs in the final ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up match, held at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Saturday.
The returning Pant, who hasn’t played for India since December 2022 after being sidelined with injuries sustained in a car crash, made 53 to help his side to 182 for five.
Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Dube then impressed with the ball, taking two wickets apiece as the Tigers came up short in response.
“Quite happy with how things went,” Indian captain Rohit Sharma said after the match. “We pretty much got what we wanted from the game… It was important to get used to the conditions. It’s a new venue, new ground, drop-in pitch - it’s important to get used to it and we managed pretty well.
“Even the bowlers did pretty well. All in happy, happy with how things went,” Rohit summed up.
India opted to bat first in New York and lost Sanju Samson for a single but captain Rohit Sharma (23) rebuilt the innings alongside Pant.
The wicketkeeper retired after reaching his 32-ball half-century, which included four fours and four sixes, and late momentum was provided by Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya.
Suryakumar Yadav struck 31 from 18 deliveries while Hardik Pandya contributed an unbeaten 40 from 23, clearing the ropes four times, as India set Bangladesh 183 to win. Mahedi Hasan was the pick of the Tigers attack, taking one for 22 from his four overs.
The Bangladesh cricket team were immediately on the back foot in reply, slipping to 10 for three in the fourth over as Arshdeep Singh claimed two early wickets.
That soon became 41 for five in the ninth over and though Shakib Al Hasan (28) and Mahmadullah (40 retired) combined for a 70-run sixth-wicket stand, Dube took two wickets in as many balls in the final over to complete a comfortable Indian win.
India play their first group game in the T20 World Cup against Ireland on Wednesday, with Bangladesh starting against Sri Lanka two days later.
India vs Bangladesh T20 World Cup 2024 brief scores: India 182/5 in 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 53, Hardik Pandya 40 not out; Mahmadullah 1/16, Mahedi Hasan 1/22) beat Bangladesh 122/9 (Mahmadullah 40; Shivam Dube 2/13, Arshdeep Singh 2/12) by 60 runs.