Some incredible individual performances in India-Bangladesh ODIs rivalry
India will play 3 ODIs against Bangladesh in Bangladesh starting from June 18. Though, India has always been a better team than Bangladesh on paper, Bangladesh stunned India several times. There is no doubt in the talent of Bangladeshi cricketers since Bangladesh had produced some really good individual performers over the years. But on most occasions, they failed to perform collectively as a team.
Recent performances suggest that Bangladesh has started to gel together as a team. They entered quarter finals of World Cup by eliminating Eoin Morgan led England team. They also beat their neighbours, Pakistan 3-0 of late.
When India and Bangladesh met last time, India won comfortably by 109 runs, thanks to Rohit Sharma's 137 and Suresh Raina's 65. There are some individuals who stole the show when India played against Bangladesh, some individuals who carried their team in their shoulders. Some of those stellar performances are:
1. Virender Sehwag 175(140)
2011 World Cup began with the India-Bangladesh encounter. After being asked to bat, Sehwag started the proceedings with a boundary of the very first ball. With Sachin at the other end, India got off to a good start by scoring 60 in the first 10 overs. After Sachin's dismissal, Gambhir gave Sehwag a good company until the 24th over when the former perished after a well made run-a-ball 39.
The young Virat Kohli joined Sehwag in the middle. Both played cautiously in the middle overs and saved their best for the end overs. Sehwag went past 100 from 94 balls. Soon after India had taken the batting powerplay, Sehwag cut loose. Then, it was a treat to the eyes for the spectators. He smashed bowlers to all over the park. By the time he was dismissed in the 48th over, he had made 175 and taken India past 350. 14 boundaries and 5 sixes were there in the 140 ball innings. Kohli was also in full flow and scored a breezy 83 ball 100. With the help of Sehwag's and Kohli's heroics, India beat Bangladesh by 87 runs.
2. Mashrafe Mortaza 4-38
2007 debacle is one of the low points of Rahul Dravid as a captain. It was the 8th match of ICC World Cup, 2007. India won the toss and elected to bat against Bangladesh. India thought it could be a cake walk since India were a much better team with likes of Sachin, Ganguly, Sehwag, Dravid and Yuvraj in the team.
But what happened was the complete opposite of what all were imagined. Mashrafe Mortaza struck in the 3rd over of Indian innings by disturbing the stumps of Sehwag. In the 7th over he picked up the wicket of Uthappa. He swung the ball in both ways and even the great Sachin found it difficult.
He came back to bowl at the end of the innings and bagged two more wickets. Abdur Razzak and Mohammed Rafique also chipped in with 3 wickets each. India bowled out for 191 and only Ganguly and Yuvraj could manage some resistance.
Fifties from Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Shakib Al Hasan sealed the game for Bangladesh and Mortaza was named the man of the match for a brilliant 4-38.