IND vs BAN, T20 World Cup 2024: Hardik Pandya helps India dominate Bangladesh in Super 8 encounter

The Indian men’s cricket team defeated Bangladesh by 50 runs in their second Super 8 encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua and Barbuda on Saturday.

Put into bat first, India posted 196/5 - the highest T20I total at the venue riding on an unbeaten 50 off 27 balls by Hardik Pandya.

In reply, Bangladesh were restricted to 146/8 in their 20 overs. India, who beat Afghanistan in their first Super 8 game, have reclaimed the top spot on the Group 1 points table following their win over Bangladesh.

Australia, after defeating Bangladesh on Friday, are in second place with a game in hand. Afghanistan and Bangladesh currently occupy the third and fourth spots, respectively. The top two teams from the group will qualify for the semi-finals.

India showed aggressive intent from the outset with Rohit Sharma’s quickfire 23 off 11 getting the inaugural T20 World Cup champions off to a good start. The Indian T20 captain lost his wicket in the fourth over but his opening partner Virat Kohli (37 off 28) took on the charge to take India’s score to 71/1 in eight overs.

India were handed a double blow in the ninth over by Tanzim Hasan. Virat Kohli was castled with a slower ball on the first delivery while Suryakumar Yadav was caught behind two balls later from a sharp bounce.

Rishabh Pant (36 off 24) took his time to settle in but ensured India's run rate remained healthy. In the 11th over, he smashed 14 runs off Mustafizur Rahman. Though Rishad Hossain dismissed him in the next over, Pant had already hit him for a six and a four in the previous two balls.

Shivam Dube (34 off 24) initially struggled but managed to put together a crucial 53-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Hardik Pandya. India were at 161/5 in 17.2 overs after Dube's dismissal.

From there, Pandya provided the finishing kick, propelling India to 196/5 in 20 overs. He capped off the innings with a boundary to bring up his half-century in the final ball.

Bangladesh started their chase well but Jasprit Bumrah and Co. managed to keep a lid on the scoring rate. They were 27/0 before Litton Das fell to Hardik Pandya’s slower ball in the fifth over. The next three overs did not see a single boundary and Bangladesh were 50/1 after eight overs.

Bangladeshi skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (40 off 32) tried to improve the scoring rate but lacked support from the other end. Eventually, Bangladesh fell short by 50 runs.

Kuldeep Yadav, with 3/19 in his four overs, was the pick of the bowlers for India. Jasprit Bumrah gave away just 13 runs in his four overs and picked up two wickets.

Hardik Pandya, who bowled three overs for 1/32 after scoring a half-century, was named the Player of the Match.

The Men in Blue will take on Australia in their final Super 8 clash on Monday. A win for India will see them top Group 1.

IND vs BAN T20 World Cup 2024 brief scores: India 196/5 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 50*; Tanzim Hasan 2/32) beat Bangladesh 146/8 in 20 overs (Najmul Hossain Shanto 40; Kuldeep Yadav 3/19; Jasprit Bumrah 2/13) by 50 runs.