India trash Bangladesh to win by 86 runs in second T20I

In the second of the three-match T20I series, Indian bowlers collectively put up a strong effort to limit Bangladesh to 135/9 on Wednesday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
After Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first, Nitish Kumar Reddy scored 74 runs to help India reach 221/9 on a track that was getting better as the evening wore on. With one game left, India has clinched the series.

Together with Rinku Singh (53, 29b, 5×4, 3×6), Nitish led India to a decisive 221 for nine points.

Early in the hunt, the visitor threw in the towel. Mahmudullah and Mehidy Hasan Miraz dribbled it about and took fast singles when the needed rate reached an unsettling 15. It was a pathetic capitulation, considerably less than what one would have thought of an international squad.

As early as the tenth over, certain they would win, India gave part-timers Abhishek Sharma and Riyan Parag an opportunity to bowl. With one wicket apiece, Abhishek and Riyan made a clear statement about the bad batting.

In terms of runs scored, this is India’s largest-ever victory over Bangladesh. They beat their previous record of 50 runs, which they achieved in the North Sound during the 2024 T20 World Cup. India was invited to bat first and managed to score 221 for 9 in 20 overs. The high point of India’s innings was a 108-run partnership off 48 balls between Nitish Reddy and Rinku Singh. In the Powerplay, the team lost three wickets, but Rinku and Nitish worked together to make life miserable for the Bangladeshi bowlers. Rinku hammered 53 off 29 balls, while Nitish scored 74 off 34 balls. India responded by limiting Bangladesh to 135 for nine. Each of Varun Chakaravarthy and Nitish Reddy claimed two wickets.

India bowled out Bangladesh for 135 runs, with seven of their bowlers taking at least one wicket each. Mahmudullah, an experienced all-rounder from Bangladesh, led the visitors in scoring with 41 runs off of 39 balls. In the inaugural game on Sunday in Gwalior, India easily defeated the opposition by seven wickets. Prior to the next ICC T20 World Cup in 2026, India, the reigning T20 world champions, are reassembling their team under new skipper Suryakumar Yadav.

With a celebratory gesture, Rinku raised his fifty with a six over the ‘keeper’s head and gestured to his bicep. The southpaw’s third T20I fifty came from this. India took the lead after a quick 48-ball, 108-run partnership between Nitish and Rinku. With a 19-ball 32, Hardik helped India reach the winning total.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, Player of the Match: “Feels great representing India and showing promise. Grateful. Credit to captain and coach, they gave me the licence. I took time and when the no-ball came, I thought this was my time, everything went for me. I want to continue and keep showing promise and repeating good performances.”

Suryakumar Yadav, India captain: “I wanted that situation (41 for 3) and the middle order to bat in it to see how they go. The message has been loud and clear – do what you do in the nets, and franchises. I wanted to see what different bowlers can do especially in games where we’re defending 170-175. So, used many bowlers without Hardik. It was Nitish’s day, so wanted to give him a chance.”

Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh captain: “We made the same mistakes, not a good thing as a team. Bowling was a good decision, first 6-7 overs we bowled well but couldn’t execute our plans later. We needed 1-2 wickets after the early ones but couldn’t get them. As batters, we need to take responsibility and stay in the crease for longer.”

Rinku Singh: “I tell myself that when the time is tough, like when I go in at 20 for 3, that I need to be calm and play straight. It is natural for me. I’ve talked to MS Dhoni too, which has helped. I try to bat through to the end. Wanted to get a partnership with Nitish as the wicket was slow and was sticking in the pitch a bit. The no-ball from Mahmudullah shifted the momentum, Nitish got going after that.”