Images from the T20 World Cup warm-up match between India and Bangladesh at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, on Saturday.
Rishabh Pant stroked a fifty to all but seal his place as the first-choice wicketkeeper batter as India trounced Bangladesh by 60 runs in the T20 World Cup warm-up match in New York on Saturday.
Pant, who was making his India comeback after that horrific car accident in December 2022, retired after smashing a quickfire 53 from 32 balls, hitting four sixes and as many sixes, on a slightly slow pitch.
After a lacklustre showing in IPL 2024, Hardik Pandya bounced back to form with a quickfire 40 not out from 23 balls, which included four sixes and two sixes, to power India to a huge 182/5 after they had elected to bat first in the practice game.
India faced little trouble in defending the total as left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh found his bowling wares, with Bangladesh finishing on a lowly 122/9.
There was a token fightback from Mahmudullah Riyaz (40 from 28 balls) and Shakib Al Hasan (28), who milked 75 runs for the sixth-wicket. But Bangladesh never really challenged India in the run chase once they were reduced to 41/5.
Arshdeep, who had a less than satisfactory outing in the IPL for Punjab Kings, struck twice inside the Powerplay, ousting Soumya Sarkar who was caught behind by Pant, and Litton Das, who was bowled by a lovely inswinging delivery.
Fellow pacer Mohammed Siraj added the wicket of Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (0) as they slipped to 10/3 in 3.5 overs, and it was too deep a hole to claw back against a competent bowling unit, which has good variety through the ranks.
The Indian bowlers also showed excellent skills to exploit a slow pitch which was also aided by an equally sluggish outfield where the ball did not roll along. Pacer Shivam Dube also chipped in with two wickets (2/11).
For Bangladesh, the defeat was a continuation of their gloomy build-up to the World Cup as they had recently lost the three-match T20I series against the USA 1-2.
The insipid batting effort by Bangladesh also provided a better perspective to the innings of Pant and Pandya earlier.
It was their gumption that led India to an above-par score on a slow pitch, and something that will come very handy once India embrace the tournament proper from June 5 with a match against Ireland at this venue.
Earlier, Rishabh Pant reinforced his claim for a berth in India's playing XI for the T20 World Cup as the first-choice wicketkeeper batter stroked an impressive half-century.
Pant, who was making his India comeback after that horrific car accident in December 2022, retired after smashing a quickfire 53 from 32 balls, hitting four sixes and as many sixes, on a slightly slow pitch.
But the knock has certainly given him an edge over Sanju Samson in the perceived competition for the wicketkeeper-batter slot.
Samson too played the match as opener along with skipper Rohit Sharma (23 from 19 balls) as Virat Kohli, who was expected to open, skipped the match after he arrived in New York only on Friday.
However, Samson, who had a fine run in the IPL for Rajasthan Royals, was trapped in front of the wicket for a 6-ball 1 by left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam.
There were also handy contributions by Suryakumar Yadav (31 from 18 balls) and Hardik Pandya (40 not out from 23 balls) as India moved to a competitive total despite not having any single big partnership in their innings.
But the primary architect of that fighting total was Pant.
Pant, who returned to competitive cricket during the IPL 2024, had shown excellent touch for Delhi Capitals while making 287 runs from 13 matches with three fifties and at a strike-rate of 155.
The left-hander continued his fine touch here too, carting Bangladesh bowlers around.
There were those typical Pant shots, which are hard to describe, such as a stand-still flick off Sowmya Sarkar to fine-leg for a boundary or that one-handed six off off-spinner Mahmudullah Riyaz.
Pant, who smashed Shakib Al Hasan for two successive sixes, raced to his fifty from just 32 balls with a boundary off Shakib before walking back to the pavilion.
Shivam Dube, who was dropped on four, could not exploit the let-off and was dismissed for a 16-ball 14 as India slipped to 130/4 in the 15th over.
India were in need of some acceleration and Pandya provided just that. Pandya, who was dropped on 26, slammed three consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam which were a treat to watch for their power and neat execution.
His innings and confidence might have immensely pleased the team management and himself after a modest outing as Mumbai Indians' captain in a season where he was subjected to intense professional and personal scrutiny.
Bangladesh also suffered an early scare as Islam walked off just before bowling the final ball of the innings, as Tanzim Hasan completed the over.
Now, it's over to Indian bowlers to tick a few boxes ahead of their World Cup opener against Ireland on June 5 in New York.
