In a thrilling cricket encounter between India vs Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, spectators faced numerous hurdles to reach the venue. Traffic snarls near the stadium, a lack of proper signage, and volunteers to guide the fans resulted in many entering the stands well after the match had already begun. The match turned out to be exciting, with both teams showcasing their skills in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Bangladesh Sets a Target of 257 Runs
Bangladesh batted first and posted 256/8 in their allotted 50 overs. Opener Litton Das was the top scorer for Bangladesh with 66 runs off 82 balls, and Tanzid Hasan contributed a brisk 51 off 43 balls in a strong opening partnership of 93 runs. However, Bangladesh struggled in the middle overs, losing four wickets for 36 runs. Mushfiqur Rahim played a vital role in stabilizing the innings with his 38-run knock, and Mahmudullah Riyadh added a quick 46 off 36 balls. For India, the wicket-takers were Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah, each claiming two wickets. Hardik Pandya limped off the field after sustaining an ankle injury while bowling.
Virat Kohli Leads India to Victory: India vs Bangladesh
India was set a target of 257 runs to win the match. In their chase, India’s openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, started strongly and went after the Bangladeshi bowlers. Rohit Sharma scored 48 runs before being caught by Towhid Hridoy. Shubman Gill reached his 10th ODI fifty but was eventually caught by Mahmudullah. Virat Kohli continued his consistent form by scoring another half-century.
The pairing of Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli looked promising, but they couldn’t build a substantial partnership. Iyer was dismissed for 19 after being caught by Mahmudullah. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Hasan Mahmud picked up wickets for Bangladesh.
India Secures a Seven-Wicket Victory
In the end, Virat Kohli remained unbeaten with an impressive century, scoring 103 not out to lead India to a seven-wicket victory. He reached his hundred with a six-off spinner Nasum Ahmed. India achieved the target of 257 with ease, finishing at 261-3 in just 42 overs.
Electrifying Contest with a Historical Perspective
The match between India and Bangladesh was an electrifying contest, and what made it even more intriguing was the historical context. While India has a dominant historical record, winning 31 out of 40 ODI face-offs, Bangladesh has been showing improvements in their form. They have won three out of their last four matches against India, challenging the established narrative of ‘upsets.’
In the end, India continued its winning streak in the World Cup, securing their fourth consecutive tournament victory. Virat Kohli’s century and the team’s solid performance made this a memorable match in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.