Gritty Bangladesh beat Rohit Sharma-led Team India by seven wickets in the first of the three T20 Internationals to take a 1-0 lead at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Sunday.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim scored 60 runs off 43 balls, including eight boundaries and a six, while captain Mahmudullah was not out on 15 after he hit the winning six for Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh’s first-ever victory over India in the shortest format of the game.
Bangladesh’s maiden T20I win against India came in their ninth clash.
Winning Moment💪#BANvIND #RiseOfTheTigers pic.twitter.com/iTfFc9Hacf
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) November 3, 2019
Reflecting on his side’s loss, India skipper Rohit Sharma said that the total they posted in the first innings was a “defendable score” but their mistakes in the field cost them the game. The 32-year-old, however, didn’t dwell too much on pin-pointing who was at fault in the field and said that the “guys are a bit inexperienced, and they can learn from that, perhaps not make them the next time”.
Rohit also didn’t shy away from praising Bangladesh Tigers who put up a brilliant show, outclassing the Men in Blue in all the three departments.
“Not to take credit away from Bangladesh. They put us under pressure right from the start when we were batting,” Rohit said at the post-match presentation.
“It was a defendable score, and we made mistakes on the field. The guys are a bit inexperienced, and they can learn from that, perhaps not make them the next time,” said an optimistic India skipper.
Rohit was mighty pleased with the leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal who was playing his first international game since August. He lauded Chahal’s quality of controlling the game in middle overs and making the captain’s job “a little easier”.
“Chahal was always welcomed into this format. He’s crucial to this team, and he showed how important he is in the middle overs when the batsmen are set. He completely understands what he needs to execute, and that makes it a little easier for the captain as well,” said the right-handed opener from Nagpur.
The second T20I of the three-match series will be played at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on November 7.
