ICC T20 World Cup 2016: India vs Bangladesh - Player Ratings
India lived to fight another day at the World T20 by defeating Bangladesh by 1 run in a match the hosts were pretty much on the backfoot throughout. Batting first India could only score 146 in their 20 overs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on a pitch that offered much assistance to the bowlers.
Also read: [Video] India vs Bangladesh Highlights, T20 WC 2016: India win by 1 run, Dhoni's stumping, Pandya's thrilling last over
Bangladesh started out their run chase impressively though and looked in control throughout with successive batsmen easing the pressure with a few useful contributions. However, a dramatic final over by Hardik Pandya, that saw him conceding two boundaries in the first three overs, before picking up the wickets of Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah to take the ball into the final delivery, with Bangladesh requiring two runs to win the match.
Shuvagata Hom heaved but missed the ball completely and an alert Dhoni ran up and broke the stumps before Mustafizur Rahman could make it to the crease to give India an unbelievable victory.
Here is how the players rated from both sides.
India
Rohit Sharma – 6/10
Set to play his first international match at Bengaluru since scoring the first of his two ODI double centuries against Australia back in 2013, Rohit Sharma sounded bullish in his pre-match comments, but unfortunately for India, the Mumbai cricketer once again failed to live up to his words. He scored a delightful six in the long-off region before playing an inexplicable slog on one knee that only skied up for a comfortable catch for the square leg fielder.
Shikhar Dhawan – 7/10
Dhawan never looked to get going as he struggled to get used to the slow nature of the surface. He did pretty well though in knocking the ball around and rotating the strike in the initial overs. But just when he seemed to have played his way out of trouble with a huge six of Mustafizur’s bowling, he fell to Shakib al Hasan, caught in front of the wickets, for 23.
Virat Kohli – 7/10
The in-form Kohli had an unusually not-so-good day at the office tonight though as he failed to connect with the ball throughout his 24-ball stay at the crease in his ‘home’ ground. He seemed to try to hit the ball a little too hard at times and couldn’t produce his free-flowing style that Indian fans have gotten used to from the team’s vice-captain.
Suresh Raina – 7/10
Coming into the match tonight with only one run in two matches, Raina was under tremendous pressure. The left-hander also had a couple of close calls early on with a direct hit and a chance at deep square leg that perhaps Shuvagata Hom should have held on to. Raina didn’t quite capitalise on the chances but he did score a handy 30, ending up as India’s top-scorer on the night.
Hardik Pandya – 7/10
Dhoni’s move to send in Pandya ahead of Yuvraj and himself might have been prompted by how well the all-rounder batted the last time the two sides faced each other during the Asia Cup. He did seem to in good nick tonight as well but, unfortunately, saw his innings curtailed thanks to a brilliant catch by Soumya Sarkar.
He was wayward with the ball and looked set to earn the fan’s wrath after a couple of loose deliveries in the final over but luck was on his side as Ravindra Jadeja held on to a crucial catch before Mahmudullah skied a full toss to the deep mid-wicket fielder as Bangladesh ultimately fell short by 1 run.
MS Dhoni – 7/10
Struggled to produce the late flurry as he has so often in the past, but didn’t allow the Indian innings to fall apart either late on after a few quick wickets. His excellent piece of work behind the stumps sent the dangerous looking Sabbir Rahman back to the pavilion. The Indian skipper was not done though as he played a key role in India’s victory by keeping his cool and running up to the stumps and dislodging the bails before Rahman could make it to the striker’s end, thus giving India victory by 1 run.
Yuvraj Singh – 4/10
Came in at No 7 to face the hat-trick ball from Al-Amin and though he managed to avoid that, Yuvraj never looked comfortable in the middle and his short 5-ball stay at the crease was over playing a pre-meditated shot that took the leading edge and popped into the fielder’s hand for a comfortable catch.
Ravindra Jadeja – 8/10
Smashed a couple of boundaries in the limited time he was afforded at the crease before falling prey to a beautiful inswinger by Mustafizur Rahman. Deceived the aggressive Tamim Iqbal with a quicker one that was fired through and also picked up the wicket of Mortaza. He was crucial in the field as well as he held his nerve to execute a pressure catch in the deep to send Mahmudullah back to the pavilion.
Ravichandran Ashwin – 8/10
With the pitch offering assistance to the spinners and India defending a low score, Ashwin was going to be India’s threat and he proved his importance by deceiving Mithun to give an early breakthrough. He should have had Tamim Iqbal in his kitty as well only for Jasprit Bumrah to drop a sitter. He didn’t let it affect him much though as he also picked up the wicket of Shakib Al Hasan at a moment when the latter was threatening to finish the game off in quick fashion.
Jasprit Bumrah – 6/10
Had a forgettable day to start with as he dropped a sitter to let Tamim Iqbal off the hook and to compound the agony, was smashed for four boundaries by the Bangladeshi opener in his very next over. He did make a good comeback though in the death overs with a number of good yorkers but went wicketless in the match.
Ashish Nehra – 7/10
The 36-year-old bowled well yet again, but unfortunately from an Indian perspective, Nehra gave away a couple of loose deliveries in his final over that helped Bangladesh's cause immensely. Having put only 146 runs on the board, India needed more wickets from Nehra but the only one the left-armer managed was a lucky one as it came off a high full toss outside the off stump.