New Delhi: India stormed to a resounding 86-run victory over Bangladesh in the second T20I, sealing the three-match series 2-0 with a game to spare. This victory marks the biggest margin of win by runs for India against Bangladesh in T20I history, surpassing their previous record of a 50-run victory in North Sound during the recent T20 World Cup.
In a dominant performance, India recovered from early setbacks to post an imposing total before their bowlers ruthlessly dismantled Bangladesh’s chase.
After losing their top three batsmen inside the powerplay, India found themselves reeling at 41 for 3. Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman led the charge for Bangladesh with skillful variations, unsettling India’s top order. However, Nitish Reddy and Rinku Singh orchestrated a remarkable turnaround. The young pair built a 108-run stand that not only steadied the ship but also accelerated the scoring at a blistering pace.
Reddy, initially cautious, struggled to 13 off his first 13 deliveries. A turning point came when he capitalised on a free hit, after which he took charge, hammering the spinners with a series of boundaries. He brought up his maiden T20I fifty with a strike rate over 200 before falling to Mustafizur's deceptive slower ball.
Rinku Singh played the perfect foil, racing to his half-century off just 26 balls, as the duo's partnership came off a mere 49 deliveries. Their power-hitting proved pivotal in propelling India to a challenging 221/9.
Cameos from Hardik Pandya and Riyan Parag added vital late runs, though Bangladesh’s pace duo kept the pressure on. Rishad Hossain, despite leaking runs earlier, claimed three wickets in the final over, providing some consolation for the visitors.
In reply, Bangladesh’s chase never really got going. Regular wickets meant they struggled to build any momentum, finding themselves in deep trouble at 46/4 by the seventh over. Mahmudullah provided some resistance with a spirited knock, but he received little support from the other end.
The mounting scoreboard pressure, combined with disciplined Indian bowling, proved too much for the visitors, who collapsed well short of the target.
Notably, seven Indian bowlers took wickets in this innings, setting a record for the most bowlers to claim a wicket for India in a T20I match.
This comprehensive performance showcased resilience with the bat and ruthlessness with the ball, allowing India to take an unassailable lead in the series. With the third match now a formality, India will look to complete a clean sweep, while Bangladesh will seek to salvage some pride.