3 top takeaways from India's win in 1st IND vs BAN 2024 T20I
India kicked off their three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in style with a commanding seven-wicket victory in the first T20I at Gwalior. The match, held on Sunday, October 6, 2024, saw a young Indian side outclassing Bangladesh, cruising to victory with 49 balls to spare.
This win marks their biggest victory in terms of balls remaining while chasing a target of 100-plus runs, as they bowled out Bangladesh for 127 and chased down the target in just 11.5 overs.
The Indian team, without their regular players such as Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, handed opportunities to debutants and others as they plan for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The standout performances came from debutant pacer Mayank Yadav and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who returned to the national team after a three-year absence. The game also showcased the depth of the Indian bowling attack, with Arshdeep Singh leading the way.
On that note, here are the three top takeaways from the Men in Blue's win in the 1st IND vs BAN 2024 T20I.
#3 Mayank Yadav impresses on debut
One of the key highlights of the game was Mayank Yadav’s return to competitive cricket after six months and his much-anticipated T20I debut. The young pacer, who previously impressed for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL before an abdominal injury sidelined him, was immediately back in rhythm.
Bowling with pace and accuracy, Mayank started his international career in style, delivering a maiden over in his first spell, an impressive feat in T20 cricket.
Although he took only one wicket, that of Mahmudullah, his ability to bowl with control and maintain pressure throughout his spell was crucial in restricting Bangladesh (1/21 in four overs). With Varun Chakravarthy and Arshdeep Singh complementing him, India’s pace-spin combination worked perfectly.
#2 Varun Chakravarthy’s impactful return
Varun Chakravarthy’s return to the Indian T20I squad after a three-year gap was a game-changer for the team. The mystery spinner made an immediate impact, taking three crucial wickets and breaking the backbone of Bangladesh’s middle order.
While he did not start that well, he made a strong comeback as his deceptive deliveries and variations made it challenging for the batters. He finished with figures of 3/31 from his four overs.
Chakravarthy’s ability to unsettle batters was evident as he dismissed Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, and Rishad Hossain. His return adds much-needed variety to the spin department, particularly in subcontinental conditions where spin plays a crucial role.
#1 India's dominant batting display led by Hardik Pandya
The Indian batting unit was relentless in pursuit of a small target, with Hardik Pandya leading the charge. After solid starts from Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav, Pandya took over the innings with a blistering knock of 39 off just 16 balls, including a no-look ramp shot that sailed over the wicketkeeper's head.
His aggressive approach ensured that the hosts did not just win but did so in a dominant fashion, making the team's intentions very clear.
Sanju Samson, opening the innings in the absence of Jaiswal and Gill, contributed a brisk 29 off 19 balls, while Suryakumar Yadav scored a quickfire 29 off 14 balls. Their performances gave them the best powerplay score (71) against Bangladesh in T20Is. Abhishek Sharma also chipped in with a few lusty blows before being run out.
With the middle-order coming in and finishing the job, the batting depth and firepower were evident once again.