Bangladesh fightback to restrict India to 168

India finished their 20 overs on 168 for 6, a total that owed everything to the belligerence of Abhishek Sharma at the top before Bangladesh's bowlers clawed their way back through the middle and death overs.

Asked to bat first, India began with openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek facing Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Nasum Ahmed. The first three overs were steady for Bangladesh, with Tanzim beating the bat on a couple of occasions and Nasum finding good control. India had only 17 runs after three overs, and the pressure seemed to be mounting on the batting side.

That pressure was released in a flash in the fourth over, when Nasum was taken apart. Gill cleared the ropes once, Abhishek followed with another six and a four, and 21 runs came in the space of six balls. That onslaught opened the floodgates.

Abhishek Sharma, in just his early days in international cricket, played without fear. He attacked Saifuddin in the final over of the Powerplay, striking four consecutive boundaries to race into the forties. By the time the field spread, he had brought up his half-century from only 25 balls. Gill played a useful supporting role, rotating the strike and punishing the odd short ball, but it was Abhishek's power hitting that defined the first phase of India's innings.

At the end of the Powerplay, India were well placed, but Bangladesh soon hit back.

Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain provided the breakthrough in the seventh over when Gill, attempting to loft down the ground, was caught at long off for 29 from 19 balls. In his very next over, Rishad struck again, this time deceiving Shivam Dube with a googly that the left-hander only managed to loft to long off. India had slipped from a commanding 77 without loss to 83 for 2, giving Bangladesh renewed belief.

Even so, Abhishek continued unfazed. He launched Rishad over midwicket for another six and kept the scoreboard racing. But the crucial moment came in the 12th over: a sharp piece of fielding led to his dismissal. Having backed up too far, Abhishek was run out for a scintillating 75 off 37 balls (6 fours, 5 sixes). His departure left India on 112 for 3, and with that, the innings lost much of its momentum.

India's middle order could not provide the same impetus. Suryakumar Yadav, the captain, struggled for timing and scratched his way to 5 off 11 balls before edging Mustafizur Rahman behind. The on-field umpire gave him not out, but wicketkeeper Jaker Ali was confident, the review was taken, and UltraEdge confirmed the faint nick.

Tilak Varma too fell cheaply, caught at square leg off a slower ball from Tanzim Hasan Sakib. From 112 for 2, India had suddenly slipped to 129 for 5, and the innings was in danger of unravelling completely.

Hardik Pandya attempted to rebuild. He struck a six off Rishad and later drove Mustafizur through cover, but Bangladesh's bowlers tightened their lengths superbly. For a stretch of 22 balls, India failed to hit a boundary, a testament to how the home side (Bangladesh) pulled things back.

Pandya's 31 from 29 was valuable in ensuring India had something competitive to defend, but it lacked the sustained power of Abhishek's knock. In the final over, Pandya fell to Saifuddin, attempting another big hit but only managing to find the fielder at long off. Axar Patel remained unbeaten on 11 as India closed on 168 for 6.

For Bangladesh, it was a disciplined effort after the early onslaught. Rishad Hossain finished with 2 for 32 and was the pick of the bowlers. Tanzim Hasan Sakib bowled three excellent overs for just 15 runs and the wicket of Varma. Mohammad Saifuddin was miserly at the death, conceding just four runs in the final over and claiming the big wicket of Pandya. Mustafizur Rahman and Nasum Ahmed were expensive at times but chipped in with control during the middle overs.