Asia Cup: India stroll to 45-run victory over Bangladesh

Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya put together a 61-run stand to help India put on a competitive total of 166. In reply, Bangladesh, in response, could only manage 121 for 7.

Ashish Nehra (right) was the pick of the bowlers, picking up three wickets to ensure Bangladesh never got going.

India recovered from a poor start to cruise to a 45-run victory over Bangladesh in Wednesday's Asia Cup opener thanks to Rohit Sharma's 83 in Mirpur.

Having been put into bat, India quickly slumped to 42-3 but Rohit – who received good support from Hardik Pandya (31) - held firm to lead India to a total of 166-6 from its 20 overs with a superb 55-ball innings 

Bangladesh lost both opening batsman inside the first four overs and never came close to reaching the target, being restricted to 121-7.

M. S. Dhoni's interaction with the media at the Sher-E-Bangla Stadium, Mirpur

Read: Dhoni: Hardik is an over-all package

Al-Amin Hossain (3-37) struck for Bangladesh with the ninth delivery of the match, removing Shikhar Dhawan (2) with an excellent swinging delivery before Virat Kohli (8) was dismissed by Mashrafe Mortaza (1-40) three overs later.

> Full scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Suresh Raina (13) fell victim to Mahmudullah (1-9) on a particularly green pitch but Bangladesh spurned a golden chance to dismiss Rohit, who was dropped in the 11th over by Shakib Al Hasan and - after putting on 55 with Yuvraj Singh (15) - combined brilliantly with Pandya for 61.

Pandya justified his promotion to number six ahead of MS Dhoni with a prolific innings that featured four boundaries and a six in the space of 11 balls.

By the time Rohit - who struck seven fours and three maximums - and Pandya had been removed in the final over, the damage had been done and India had compiled a competitive total.

In response, Bangladesh soon showed signs of frailty. Ashish Nehra (3-23) dismissed Mohammad Mithun (1) and Soumya Sarkar went for just 11 to the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah (1-23).

Sabbir Rahman (44) threatened to keep Bangladesh in the game but the wickets continued to tumble around him.

Pandya (1-23) eventually did for Sabbir and Nehra subsequently claimed the wickets of Mahmudullah (7) and Mashrafe (0) to leave Bangladesh on 100-7 with 20 balls remaining and all but end the match as a contest.