Despite an early setback with the loss of Hardik Pandya and Bangladesh’s solid start, India’s middle-overs bowlers played a pivotal role in their seven-wicket victory at the MCA Stadium.
Bangladesh began strongly, reaching 63-0 during the first power-play. However, India’s comeback in the middle overs, led by spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, resulted in five wickets falling and just 126 runs conceded. This effectively disrupted Bangladesh’s progress, restricting them to a total of 256 in 50 overs.
Opener Shubman Gill emphasized the significance of India’s middle-overs bowling. He stated, “The way our bowlers, especially spinners, have performed in the middle overs has been exceptional. This has been a game-changer for us.”
Gill further explained, “While playing in Sri Lanka before the World Cup, the pitches favored spin, but here, spinners didn’t get much assistance after the first match. However, their ability to secure crucial breakthroughs and maintain pressure on the batsmen, particularly during the middle overs, has made a significant difference for us.”
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In addition to effective middle-overs bowling, India’s fielding prowess has garnered attention. KL Rahul’s one-sided diving catch of Litton Das and Ravindra Jadeja’s stunning catch of Mushfiqur Rahim were standout moments. India leads in catching efficiency, saving at least 13 runs in this aspect against Bangladesh.
Gill highlighted the team’s commitment to improving their fielding standards, noting, “As cricketers, we understand the importance of fielding. While a batsman may not know how many balls they will face, they are certain to field for the entire 50 overs. Similarly, bowlers have to bowl their quota of overs and field throughout the innings.”
Gill appreciated both catches, stating, “Both catches, taken by Rahul and Jadeja, were fantastic considering the context of the game. I can’t single out one because both were spectacular.”
On a personal note, Gill contributed 53 runs off 55 balls, continuing his good form after missing the first two matches due to dengue. He expressed his satisfaction, saying, “I felt disappointed to miss opportunities while I was unwell, but it felt great to get back into the game.”
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