India defeated Bangladesh by one run in a thrilling contest at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in the World T20 match Wednesday. The game went right down to the wire with Bangladesh requiring 11 runs from the final over, which was bowled by Hardik Pandya, who turned out to be India's hero.
Senior India players like Ashish Nehra, Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni were involved in a meeting at the middle with Bangladesh requiring two runs for a win in the final ball of the match. Dhoni asked Pandya not to bowl a yorker to batsman Shuvagato Hom. The bowler bowled it short and wide. Hom missed the ball, and Dhoni ran out the batsman.
"There were quite a few stuff we were discussing, one thing was for sure, we did not want him (Pandya) to bowl a yorker. It had to be a back of a length, but how back of a length, that was the question. You don't want to bowl a wide," Dhoni quoted the Press Trust of India as saying.
"We were deciding out field and I think he executed really well. It's nice to have hood plans but the plan only looks good when it is executed well."
Though Pandya turned out to be the biggest hero of the night, one should give huge credit to the way Jasprit Bumrah bowled throughout the game and kept India in the game with a great penultimate over. Bumrah only gave six singles in the 19th over, which gave India hope. Bumrah has been India's weapon in the death overs and Dhoni praised Bumrah for his incredible effort with the ball.
"Bumrah bowled really well, the second over that he bowled, he was under pressure, with the field restrictions. It was a reflection of his misfield and the dropped catch, but he had to forget about what happened and that's what we told. I feel he is somebody who is very good with the yorkers and he did very well," Dhoni said.
"There were two occasions when we had to make the game and instead of using our part-timers and we bowled our frontliners. It was a very good bowling effort."
India might have won two of their three matches in the World T20 so far, but Dhoni's team are yet to hit top gear. Prior to the World T20, India were touted as top favourites to clinch the World T20. They have not justified their tag.
India batsmen have been a major disappointment as they have failed to shine with the bat as a collective unit. India need to up their game against Australia Sunday. Victory against the Aussies can help India clinch the World T20.
