IND vs BAN Highlights: Rohit’s heroics in vain as Bangladesh beats India to win series 2-1

Rohit Sharma’s valiant unbeaten half-century goes in vain as Bangladesh beats India to win the series 2-1. The India skipper, who was injured hammered a brilliant unbeaten 51 off 28 balls but his heroics went in vain as Bangladesh and Mustafizur held their nerve to beat India by five runs and script a historic series win, its second consecutive win at home against India.

India needs 41 in 24 balls and Rohit isn’t going to let Bangladesh run over as the India skipper hammers Ebadot for two massive sixes, his trademark pull and then a boundary to give much-needed impetus to the innings. This isn’t over yet.

Shakib Al Hasan strikes and he removes Shardul Thakur with a ripper as the ball zips past the batsman, who danced down the track only to be beaten and get stumped. Rohit Sharma is out in the middle and that’s a brave move from the Indian skipper. Having injured his finger, the skipper copes up a blow but is off the mark.

Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar are out in the middle and this is the last recognised pair as Rohit Sharma is unlikely to come out and bat. The required rate has now gone past eight runs per over and Bangladesh sniffing a series win with the crowd behind them. India needs a blinder from either Shardul or Chahar to go past the finishing line. Boundaries the need of the hour.

The bowling change has worked and this time Axar Patel falls and the all-rounder departs for a brilliant 56-ball 56 with three sixes and two boundaries but credit to Litton for getting his strike bowler Ebadot back into the attack. Axar had to go for the boundary shit but failed to clear the cover region as Shakib Al Hasan took a good catch to put Bangladesh ahead.

Mehidy Hasan strikes and he breaks the century stand between Iyer and Axar to provide relief for Bangladesh. Iyer tonked the spinner for a maximum and then wanted to repeat the same but this time couldn’t get the distance as Afif Hossain takes a good catch to pack off Iyer, who falls for a terrific 82 off 102 balls. Meanwhile, Axar has reached his fifty, a run-a-ball half-century, his second in international cricket and this one is an important one. Shardul Thakur is the new man in.

Iyer and Axar are doing a great job and the 100-run partnership is up with the duo surpassing MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina’s stand for the highest fifth-wicket partnership in Mirpur. Calm and collected, the Indian batsmen are going about their job with great control and correct placements as Litton Das is a worried man now, not knowing how to break the stand. The current rate is touching 5 rpo against the required rate of 6.81 but that shouldn’t bother the Indians.

Axar Patel is playing a good role with the bat and has played his role to perfection and with a well-set Iyer batting unbeaten on 68, this partnership has all the makings of helping India get closer to the Bangladesh total. Rohit Sharma and Deepak Chahar, both nursing injuries are doubtful if they can bat or not and both Iyer and Axar know the importance of this partnership and game. With series on the line, this is a golden opportunity for the batting pair to script something memorable.

Shreyas Iyer hits a fine half-century off 69 balls and he has been the lone fighter who has dropped anchor as Axar Patel does well to hang in to give India hope. The duo has forged a valuable 59-run stand off 52 balls and India still needs 148 runs with the required rate at 6.39. For India to cross the line, it’s Shreyas Iyer who holds the key.

Mehindy Hasan can do nothing wrong and this time the off-spinner traps KL Rahul and that should give Bangladesh plenty of hope that it can seal the series in Dhaka. Flatter delivery, Rahul pre-meditated and played the paddle shot but missed the ball and he walked off the pitch even before the umpire raised his finger. Huge wicket and Mehidy the star, keeps shining. Axar Patel joins Shreyas Iyer.

Bangladesh controlling proceedings with KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer stitching a partnership to pull India out of trouble. India’s approach to the run chase has been questionable as Rahul should have opened with Dhawan, not disturning Kohli from his usual position. With the openers gone and the floater in Sundar back in the hut, both Rahul and Iyer are forced to play the waiting game with the required rate climbing over six an over against the current one at 3.75.

Shakib strikes in his very first over and this is not good from India’s point of view as Bangladesh is taking huge strides towards a historic series win. It was a nothing shot from Sundar as he went hard at the ball, trying to turn it to the leg side but hit it straight to Litton Das at mid-wicket. KL Rahul comes out to bat and he needs to bat through to deny Bangladesh a series win.

Shreyas Iyer and Washington Sundar have started the rebuilding job and on a good batting wicket, the duo should manage to string a partnership and bring India’s chase back on track. Wonderful opportunity for the youngsters to make a statement and they will be keen to deliver the goods. Washington made his intentions clear with a superb straight drive off Mustafizur as the ball raced to the boundary. Plenty of time and overs left for India to recalibrate the run chase.

Shikhar Dhawan’s woeful stay at the crease comes to an end and both the Indian openers are back in the hut. After losing a lbw review, Mustafizur gets one to kick off the surface and gets Dhawan into a tangle, who fends the bumper to Mehidy Hasan at backward point. Washington Sundar and Shreyas Iyer have a job in their hands.

Ebadot Hossain strikes and that’s a perfect start for Bangladesh as Virat Kohli drags a back-of-length delivery on to his stumps and the crowd erupts as Bangladesh has drawn first blood. Shikhar Dhawan has looked tentative so far as the southpaw survived a couple of LBW shouts. Shreyas Iyer walks in and there is no sign of Rohit Sharma. Wonderful opportunity for Iyer to score a match-winning knock.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz smashed his maiden ODI century and it comes against India. A special century as the middle-order batsman rescued his team from a precarious position and forged a record-breaking partnership of 148 runs off 165 balls for the seventh wicket stand and then forged an unbeaten 54-run stand off 23 balls with Nasum Ahmed. Miraz hammered a brilliant unbeaten 100 off 83 balls with eight boundaries and four sixes. The Indian bowlers did well upfront to pick six wickets but were taken to the cleaners with Siraj being the most expensive leaking 73 in his 10 and picking two wickets. From 69/6 to 271/6, Mehidy Hassan led the fightback with clarity, purpose and audacity. We will be back for the chase in a bit.

Umran Malik strikes and picks his second wicket as the India pacer removes Mahmadullah as KL Rahul takes an excellent catch behind the stumps. However, the bowler gets the treatment from Nasum Ahmed who smacks the bowler for two consecutive boundaries and then Hasan Miraz added salt to injury by slashing another boundary. Runs coming thick and fast for Bangladesh.

The Indian attack is being taken to the cleaners and with Deepak Chahar nursing a hamstring after bowling just three overs, the rest of the pack has struggled to penetrate and break the stand. Mahmuddual and Mehidy with a century-plus stand are ready for the final surge and this has been a fantastic recovery from Bangladesh. Similar case with the Indian bowlers as once again after polishing off the top-order they stumbled again, this time against the pair of Mahmudullah and Mehidy, who bring the 200 up for Bangladesh. Top batting.

Washington Sundar finishes his spell and he picks 3/37 in his quota of 10 overs. India still unable to break the partnership between Mehidy Hasan and Mahmudullah with the former continuing his rich vein of form and smashing a timely half-century to bail Bangladesh out of trouble.

The partnership is building up nicely and Bangladesh won’t mind but India has lacked the punch to wipe out the tail and break a stand after a flurry of wickets. Shardul Thakur has been impressive but Axar has gone for runs and so as Washington Sundar. Umran Malik back in the attack and needs to break this stand.

Mahmudullah and Mehidy Hasan have kept India at bay and have forged an unbeaten 50-run partnership for the seventh after the regular fall of wickets. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar are in operation but both batsmen have taken a liking to the spinners and have changed gears.

Mahmudullah and Mehidy Hasan Miraz are trying to resist the Indian attack and they have plenty of overs to help Bangladesh recover and post a competitive total but with six down and a wicket here will tilt the game further towards India’s perimeter. Mohammed Siraj is into his seventh over and what a spell the Hyderabad bowler has bowled.

Spin does the trick for India as Washington Sundar strikes to remove both Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim to leave Bangladesh six down. Shakib was in all sorts of trouble after being peppered by Umran Malik’s pace and the batsman played a sweep, only to get a top-edge. India then went for a successful review as the ball brushed Mushfiqur’s glove en route to Dhawan at first slip and then the spinner castled Afif Hossain to be on a hat-trick.

Umram Malik knocks down the off pole of Shanto and the batsman is beaten by sheer pace as the off-stump gets uprooted. It’s a 151kmph delivery and Shanto was exposing all his three stumps, rattled by the pace and after tormenting Shakib in the previous over, Umran packs off Shanto to provide India the third breakthrough. The young fast bowler has impressed with his bowling on his maiden tour to Bangladesh and hittting the hard lengths to instil fear in the Bangladesh batsman. Mushfiqur Rahim joins Shakib.

Umran Malik has left Shakib in all sorts of trouble as the Bangladesh all-rounder coped a couple of nasty blows, one on his left ribs while trying to duck a short ball and another delivery that kicked off the back of the length area and hit Shakib flush on the helmet, just above the left ear. Shakib is looking uncomfortable against the pacer and Umran Malik has set the stage on fire with sheer pace.

Mohammed Siraj is on fire and the India pacer castles Litton Das to peg back Bangladesh. Siraj gets in the inswinger to do the damage as the ball sneaked past the huge gap between bat and pad of the Bangladesh skipper who was also beaten by pace. Shakib Al Hasan joins Shanto with Bangladesh two down.

India skipper Rohit Sharma has been sent to hospital for an X-ray after he was hit on his left hand. Rohit hurt himself while trying to take a catch off Mohammed Siraj’s bowling at second slip but dropped Anamul and it looked like he split his webbing.

Shanto releases the pressure with a boundary as the southpaw uses the pace of Siraj and drills him uppishly down ground to keep the scorecard ticking and then exhibits another straight drive to lift Bangladesh. But, Siraj is in no mood to relent the pressure and has got under the skin of Shanto, even exchanging some words, getting the crowd involved. This is such an amazing contest with two slips in place and forcing the batsman to play. It’s a heated contest in the middle with Siraj looking threatening and Shanto tentative although the batsman has played a couple of authoritative shots.

Mohammed Siraj and Deepak Chahar and making the most of the conditions and are looking for another breakthrough. Both bowlers aren’t letting the batsmen off the hook and have been bowling probing lines, beating the batsmen’s outside edge with Siraj banging in short and troubling the batters with pace and bounce.

Having got an early wicket, Siraj has picked rhythm and has troubled Najmul Shanto, the new batsman who came one down after the early fall of Anamul. Deepak Chahar supporting well to Siraj as both pacers are attacking with the new ball with India sensing an oportunity to get another wicket.

Rohit Sharma drops Anamul off Mohammed Siraj and in the process hurt himself as the seam cut the India skipper’s finger. However, Siraj strikes the very next ball as he traps Anamul with an inswinger. Bangladesh went for the review, only to lose it as Siraj provides an early breakthrough for India.

Deepak Chahar starts well and the swing bowler has got some assistance from the surface as he has been able to move the ball both ways with Anamul getting off the mark with a single. Bangladesh skipper Litton Das is yet to get off the mark and India will be hoping to make an early breakthrough.

Anamul Haque and Litton Das are out in the middle and Bangladesh has a rare opportunity to win the series and for that the openers will look to give their team a fiery start. From India’s prespective, they will look to pick early wickets and restrict Bangladesh to a gettable total. Bright and sunny in Dhaka and we are all set for play to begin. Here’s Deepak Chahar steaming in with the new ball.

“We have to play good cricket and I hope bowling first now, we can restrict them to a decent score and bat well. We have two changes. Axar Patel is back and he replaces Shahbaz Ahmed. Kuldeep Sen is not available for selection, so we have got Umran Malik in place of him. Going back to the drawing board and understanding how we need to play on this conditions, just the basic talk about what we need to do with the bat and how to handle certain bowlers. Had good training session yesterday, and hopefully we can come out and replicate those learnings.”

India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik

Bangladesh Playing XI: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das(c), Anamul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman

Axar Patel replaces Shahbaz Ahmed and Umran Malik comes in place for Kuldeep Sen, who wasn’t available for selection.

Bangladesh wins toss, opts to bat first

“There was grip, turn and bounce for the spinners in the first game. Today we are playing on pitch number 8. It’s lot more brown, and a tinge of green on it. Could allow the batters a bit more time in playing their strokes. Still a good pitch to bat on, but you need to apply yourselves like KL and Litton did in the first game.”

Rohit will hope the coin lands in India’s favour and having lost the first one, it will be a crucial one from India’s point of view.

Axar Patel, who is a like-for-like replacement for Shahbaz, could also get a look-in if he is fit.

“We need to learn and understand how to play on such wickets. No excuses for us because we are used to these wickets. I don’t really know how much they can improve in a couple of practice sessions. I feel the genes are there and it’s only about handling pressure. I am sure these guys will learn and we look forward to the next game.”

Bangladesh Predicted XI: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das (c), Anamul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman.

India Predicted XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Sen.

Bangladesh Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das(c), Anamul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Yasir Ali, Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed, Nurul Hasan

India Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Sen, Umran Malik, Rajat Patidar, Ishan Kishan, Rahul Tripathi, Axar Patel

An out of form Shikhar Dhawan will look to be back among runs as India takes on Bangladesh with an aim to level the three-match ODI series.