New Delhi: With the penultimate matchday of the Super 12 stage of the Men’s T20 World Cup underway, the four semifinalist slots are now slowly taking shape. But a lot of cricket is still left to be played before Sunday, starting with the encounter between India and Bangladesh at the Adelaide Oval Wednesday afternoon.
Defeat to South Africa in Perth last weekend means that both of India’s remaining matches are must-win, if the Men in Blue are to confirm their place in the semifinals.
The Bangla Tigers are the first to stand in India’s way, and have a shot at making the semifinals as well if they beat Team India and Pakistan. As such, Bangladeshi captain Shakib al Hasan’s prematch remarks that India are firm favourites and that his team shouldn’t be expected to win the tournament suggest that mind games are at play.
Bangladesh Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wk), Mosaddek Hossain, Yasir Ali, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam
India Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Dinesh Karthik (wk), R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh
Catch all the live action from IND vs Bangladesh match here:
5.51pm India go top of the table but need to win their final game to guarantee qualification
Bangladesh were 17 runs ahead of the curve before the rain but have found themselves short of the revised target by 5. The turning points were undoubtedly Rahul’s moment of magic to remove Litton Das as well as Shami’s dismissal of Shanto just as he had gotten going. A complete collapse followed, but Taskin Ahmed and Nurul Hasan Sohan took Bangladesh within one six of levelling the scores. This win takes India to the top of the table ahead of South Africa’s crunchtime encounter with Pakistan, but they will still need to defeat Zimbabwe at the MCG to ensure that they finish within the top 2 and make the semifinals.
5.47pm Over 16 Bangladesh 145-6 (Nurul 25*, Taskin 12*) – Arshdeep holds nerve amid Nurul onslaught as India win by 5 runs
Arshdeep comes on for the final over as Taskin collects an inside edged single off the first to give Nurul the strike. There’s a break as Arshdeep deliberates with his fielders over placements and tactics. But it’s to little avail at first as Nurul simply pulls his short ball from around the wicket for a critical six at 87 metres! Arshdeep goes yorker next as Nurul refuses a single, but gets a couple off the fourth delivery. Bangladesh need two sixes but Nurul keeps things interesting, with a beautifully carved boundary to point! So Arshdeep deliberates again with Rohit and his fielders. He needs to nail one last yorker and he does enough, as Nurul cannot hit the final ball for six! India have won by 5 runs and have effectively eliminated Bangladesh from semifinal contention! Heartbreak for the Tigers!
5.39pm Over 15 Bangladesh 131-6 (Taskin 11*, Nurul 12*) Taskin hits a four and a six off Hardik but Bangladesh still need 20
Taskin has arrived with the bat now! Calm and composed compared to the previous batsmen, he smashes Hardik’s overpitched full delivery for four to cover. Hardik then hurries Taskin with a bouncer and DK does well to prevent the bye. But Taskin isn’t done yet, pulls another short ball over midwicket for six! India drop more fielders back in response. Hardik delivers a yorker to which Taskin turns over the strike, but Nurul plays and misses two full wide deliveries. India are clear favourites now.
5.33 pm Over 14 Bangladesh 120-6 (Nurul 12*, Taskin 0*) – Bangladesh need 31 off 12
Nurul Hasan may have to try and chase this total down by himself, as the last recognised batsman. He starts off this Arshdeep over well, by despatching a full delivery over mid-off for four. The rest of the over, however, Arshdeep is more accurate, conceding leg byes and doubles from a Nurul ramp shot but Bangladesh need at least one more boundary this over. They can’t find it so will have to chase 31 off 12
5.25 pm Over 12.5 Bangladesh 108-6 (Nurul 2*) OUT! Hardik castles Mosaddek after conceding a six
Bangladesh need to chase down these remaining runs to stay alive in the tournament but all Mosaddek Hossain can do is a “six and out”. Two deliveries after flat-batting Hardik for a maximum over cover, he’s out bowled. Bangladesh have lost 4 wickets for just 9 runs in the last 11 balls, a complete collapse under scoreboard pressure!
5.22 pm Over 12.2 Bangladesh 102-5 (Nurul 2*) OUT! Hardik removes Yasir as Bangladesh lose half their side
Another one bites the dust, this time to a Hardik short ball as Yasir Ali is hurried into a poorly timed pull shot. Arshdeep makes no mistake.
5.19 pm Over 11.5 India 100-4 (Yasir 1*) OUT! Bangladesh faltering due to Arshdeep’s trouble strike, Shakib gone
Bangladesh respond to the flurry of wickets by promoting their specialist finisher, Yasir Ali, to the no. 5 position. Yasir hasn’t had much game time this tournament and only gets a single off his first two balls to give the strike back to Shakib. Arshdeep puts the pressure on with a perfectly directed bouncer that Shakib cannot get bat to, and the required rate suddenly approaches 12. He then follows it up with another length ball, which Shakib skies and it’s another simple catch, this time for the substitute Hooda. The Tigers are falling apart in Adelaide!
5.14 pm Over 11.1 Bangladesh 99-3 (Shakib 13*) OUT! Arshdeep removes Afif amid scoreboard pressure
Arshdeep comes back on and just like Shami, has made an immediate breakthrough! The left-hander Afif has attempted to slog a length ball outside off to the long on boundary but only gets the elevation and not the distance required. SKY takes a regulation catch and India are ahead as it stands.
5.13 pm Over 11 Bangladesh 99-2 (Shakib 13*, Afif 3*) – Bangladesh remain in touch with the required rate
It’s been largely “Litton or bust” so far for Bangladesh as Rohit takes advantage of a favourable matchup to bring on Ashwin. He restricts Shakib to consecutive dots before dragging it back, allowing the Bangladeshi captain to hit him down the ground the four. And then he masterfully manipulates the field, opening the face of the bat with the spin to hit it over the top for a boundary to cover. Ashwin recovers against Afif a tad, but it’s still a productive over for the Tigers.
5.07 pm Over 10 Bangladesh 88-2 (Shakib 5*, Afif 2*) – Shami puts on the squeeze with hard lengths
Shami is restricting the Bangladesh batsmen with his hard lengths. After removing Shanto, both Afif and Shakib have only been able to knock it around instead of clearing the rope. No timing from any of Shakib’s shots yet as the required run rate suddenly balloons to 10.50.
5.04 pm Over 9.1 Bangladesh 84-2 (Shakib 3*) OUT! Shami makes instant impact as Shanto falls
Just as he was getting himself set, Shanto has given it away! It was a length ball angling in to the left-hander from Mohammad Shami and Shanto slogged it straight down Suryakumar Yadav’s throat. India are back in this as Bangladesh are now two down!
5.02 pm Over 9 Bangladesh 84-1 (Shanto 21*, Shakib 3*) – Shanto finally comes to the party with six over fine leg
Given Litton Das’ dismissal, the responsibility now falls on his opening partner Shanto. He has struggled to score all night but picks up a welcome six over fine leg against Hardik’s short ball. Both Shanto and Shakib are looking to go hard at every ball but can only pick up singles for the rest of the over, as they remain in touch with the required rate.
4.54 pm 7.2 68-1 (Shanto 8*) OUT! Rahul removes dangerman Litton Das with direct hit!
There’s another brief break as Litton seeks treatment on his left forearm after he had slipped on the pitch while turning over the strike to Shanto. Shanto hits the ball to deep midwicket and the openers attempt a second run but what a magnificent throw this is from KL Rahul. Litton Das is well out of his crease with a direct hit!
4.50 pm Bangladesh are set a revised target of 151 from 16 overs
Owing to the rain delay, we have lost 5 overs of play as per the cut-off time at Adelaide. Having been well ahead of the game at 66-0 at 7 overs, Bangladesh now have to chase 85 runs from their remaining 9 overs, to chase a target of 151. With Litton Das still at the crease with Nazmul Hussain Shanto, Bangladesh stand as favourites but doubts remain over how this interruption will affect both sides’ rhythm and how the damper outfield will affect the conditions. Ashwin has the ball in hand with Litton on strike.
4.00 pm Rain stops play with Bangladesh 17 ahead of the DLS par score
The rain has arrived, seemingly out of nowhere, although the forecast at the start of the day had predicted a 20-25% chance of showers. It’s gotten heavier and the ground workers have brought in the big cover. As it stands, thanks to the Litton Das masterclass, Bangladesh are a whopping 17 runs ahead of the DLS par score.
3.55 pm Over 6 Bangladesh 60-0 (Litton 56*, Shanto 4*) – Litton gives an intent masterclass, hits 50 off 21 balls
Litton’s on fire! He races to his fifty off just 21 balls, targeting Shami with leg side shots, first a boundary at square leg, followed by a pull shot for six, making the most of Adelaide’s shorter square boundaries! “How do you choose one good shot out of so many?!?!?” wonders commentator Harsha Bhogle, as Litton runs down the pitch on the penultimate ball to smash Shami again, this time over cover for four. Starved of the strike, Shanto takes a single off the final ball to end the powerplay with Bangladesh well ahead of the curve.
3.50 pm Over 5 Bangladesh 44-0 (Litton 41*, Shanto 3*) – Litton continues to manipulate the field with ramp shot six
Bhuvneshwar returns for his third over within the powerplay, as India have responded to the Litton Das show with some field adjustments. Litton takes a very risky single and dives, and it’s a direct hit! India look confident but so does Litton, and sure enough, he had easily made it in. Shanto simply gives the strike back to Litton, who is having a tougher time finding the gaps thanks to Bhuvneshwar’s improved lengths. But Litton adapts with a top class ramp shot, using the pace again and manipulating the field placements to hit a second six, this time over fine leg.
3.44 pm Over 4 Bangladesh 35-0 (Litton 33*, Shanto 2*)
Litton is well up for this, undaunted by the steep chase. Determined to maximise the powerplay, he tries to dance down the pitch but misses. Then, he smartly pulls Shami’s express short ball to the cow corner gap, allowing Bangladesh to pick up three. Shanto, by contrast, looks stuck and struggling to time the ball, playing out three dots to end Shami’s first over.
3.39 pm Over 3 Bangladesh 30-0 (Litton 28*, Shanto 2*) – Litton smashes Bhuvneshwar to all parts and survives second lifeline
Litton is magnificently showing the early intent Rahul and Rohit lacked. First he pulls Bhuvneshwar’s short delivery over cow corner for six and then smashes Bhuvneshwar over the mid-off fielder for four. And he’s not done yet — he expertly uses Bhuvneshwar’s pace to guide the fourth ball past third man for four. But Litton’s also playing with fire! Bhuvneshwar induces an edge which goes between the keeper and first slip and goes down begging. A massive, 16-run over for Bangladesh
3.35 pm Over 2 Bangladesh 14-0 (Litton 13*, Shanto 1*) – Litton puts Arshdeep to the sword and survives early scare
In-form left-armer Arshdeep is next in, but overpitches and offers too much width to Litton, who plays a lovely shot over the cover gap to get Bangladesh going. Arshdeep overpitches again, this time too straight and Litton nicely clears his front foot and punches it past the bowler for another four. But the left-armer comes back with a beautiful length delivery that Litton tamely edges to the keeper. India are celebrating but the umpires are not convinced, sending it upstairs, and for good reason — the ball had bounced before DK had collected it. Litton survives and swings hard at the final delivery, smacking Arshdeep past cover for a third boundary.
3.28 pm Over 1 Bangladesh 2-0 (Shanto 1*, Litton 1*) – Bhuvneshwar opens with signature economical over
As per usual this tournaament, India’s premier swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar takes the new ball against Bangladesh openers Nazmul Hussain Shanto and Litton Das. He immediately find the hard length, striking Shanto on his thigh and following it up with another dot. Shanto gets off the mark on the third ball with a push to the leg side, and Litton does the same. Bhuvneshwar then finds that swing, and hits Shanto, who fails to time his flick. Another dot follows, as it’s a signature economical over from Bhuvneshwar
3.21 pm Inexperience costs Bangladesh as India pose challenging total
India hit 98 runs off the second half of the innings which is par for the course in modern T20 internationals, but Shakib will be disappointed with some of the bowling performances, including his own. As has been the case with most of Bangladesh’s matches this tournament, Taskin and Mustafizur were the pick of the bowlers with excellent economy rates, despite going wicketless. India risked collapsing when Hardik Pandya fell soon after Suryakumar Yadav, but Shakib, Hasan and Shoriful couldn’t put a stop to the continued flow of runs. India will back themselves to defend this, given Bangladesh’s lack of power game, while Virat Kohli has another milestone to celebrate — he is now the all-time highest scorer in Men’s T20 World Cup history, with 1065 runs amassed since 2012.
3.13 pm Over 20 India 184-6 (Kohli 64*, Ashwin 13*) – Ashwin comes to the party with much-needed cameo
Bangladesh attempted to change tactics by bringing in Shoriful, but he simply hasn’t answered the call, although it’s a tough job bowling the final over. First he bowls far too short at his lower pace which Ashwin pulls over midwicket. Ashwin then get underneath Shoriful’s slot delivery down the ground for a four. Shoriful finally gets his lengths right with three near-perfect yorkers and preventing further boundaries. But India have made it well past the 180 mark that’s usually considered par for the Adelaide Oval.
3.09 pm Over 19 India 170-6 (Kohli 61*, Ashwin 2*) Kohli leads the charge as India try to bat Bangladesh out of the game
India breach that competitive 160 mark but Hasan Mahmud continues to bowl largely disciplined….until the last two balls. Virat Kohli is too good to let go an easy short ball that’s too far to the leg side and picks it up for a boundary behind square. Hasan then overpitches, offering a slot delivery that Kohli smashes down the ground for a perfectly timed six!
3.04 pm Over 18.1 India 157-6 (Kohli 50*) OUT! Hasan picks up 3 as Axar falters to a slower ball
Bangladesh are pulling out all the stops to ensure India have a poor death overs period, as Hasan strikes again! Commentator Athar Ali Khan identifies it as a back-of-the-hand slower delivery that Axar plays too early, only offering a checked shot that is taken by Shakib running back at cover.
3.04 pm Over 18 India 157-5 (Kohli 50*, Axar 7*)
Axar Patel comes to the crease and instantly scores a boundary against his Delhi Capitals teammate, by helping along Mustafizur’s leg-side freebie past short fine leg. After getting another couple, Axar misses out on a boundary opportunity offered by a short and wide delivery. Mustafizur then bowls a good wide bouncer in response to Axar trying to run down the pitch. The Fizz delivers another hard length to which Axar mistimes but just barely falls safe past a scrambling Shakib. The left-arm pacer then excellently ends his spell with a yorker that Kohli survives.
2.58 pm Over 17 India 150-5 (Kohli 50*) OUT! DK is caught running for a non-existent single after Kohli reaches 50
Shoriful’s off day continues as DK walks to the off side, exposing his stumps and playing an excellent sweep shot to Shoriful’s full and wide deliver for four. There’s a bit of gamesmanship from Kohli as Shoriful concedes a wide with a bouncer that’s too high. Kohli needs more boundaries as he reaches yet another half-century but can’t dispatch Shoriful’s wide full tosses. Shoriful’s final ball is also a full toss which Kohli hits straight to the fielder at short cover on the bounce, but what is DK doing? He’s going for a single that is not available and is run out! Calamitous decision by the veteran keeper.
2.52 pm Over 16 India 140-4 (Kohli 46*, Karthik 2*)
Unlike Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli has continued to punish Bangladesh whenever the odd bad ball is delivered, as he picks up Hasan’s slower ball down the leg side for four. New batsman Dinesh Karthik looks to target that same boundary but can pick singles for now. But what was a solid over may now turn into an expensive one, as Shakib and Kohli share a good-natured disagreement on umpire Marais Erasmus’ decision to call a belated no-ball for Hasan bowling a second bouncer. DK can’t hit the full toss so Bangladesh survive.
2.47 pm Over 15.1 India 130-4 (Kohli 40*) OUT! Hasan Mahmud returns to remove disappointing Hardik Pandya
Hasan Mahmud has done it again! But Hardik has to be furious with how tame a dismissal this was. As labelled by commentator Harsha Bhogle, it was an innocuous short and wide delivery that Hardik has simply tapped to Yasir Ali at point, almost as if it were a fielding drill.
2.46 pm Over 15 India 130-3 (Kohli 40*, Pandya 5*)
Mustafizur on for his penultimate over to new batsman Hardik Pandya, who immediately fails to hit a length ball angling away from him. India are doing a solid job of hustling ones and twos but they need boundaries on this small Adelaide ground. The Fizz is doing a solid job of bowling to his field as Hardik tries to go over the top and can only get a single to deep third man. After beating Kohli with a well-directed bouncer, the Fizz concedes an unlucky boundary with an inside edge that runs to fine leg. However, his final ball is anticipated well by Kohli, who smashes him to mid-on for another four!
The captain has made the breakthrough once again and this time it’s the big fish. We were just praising him for what looked like yet another masterful innings, but Suryakumar has misread and lost his shape at a wicket-to-wicket delivery drifting in. He misses, Shakib hits, and India now find themselves three down!
2.36 pm Over 13 India 115-2 (Suryakumar 30*, Kohli 30*) – SKY gets well set and striking at 200
Hasan returns for his second over and beats SKY in his first ball. But Hasan is then smashed to extra cover for two consecutive boundaries by a now set and fluent SKY, who effortlessly clears the off-side infield. Shakib responds with a field change and Hasan delivers a great yorker that SKY manages to dig out for a single. Shakib adapts the field again to Kohli who simply dabs the ball to third man to get the inform SKY back on strike. But if there’s anyone in this tournament who’s an expert and manipulating field placements, it’s SKY and he does it again, as he hits the final delivery for another boundary.
2.32 pm Over 12 India 101-2 (Kohli 29*, Suryakumar 17*) – SKY rides his luck as India cross 100
Shakib induces a poorly timed sweep from SKY but Mustafizur isn’t able to make the required ground from short fine leg to take a diving catch, much to Shakib’s apparent chagrin. SKY then turns over the strike to Kohli who nicely finds a gap on deep midwicket for a couple. Shakib then throws a tempting delivery full and wide, to which SKY attempts his signature inside-out shot, but he only edges it past where a slip would have been. An eventful over for Shakib but ends without another wicket to his name
2.28 pm Over 11 India 92-2 (Kohli 26*, Suryakumar 11*)
Mustafizur is on for his second over to continue his tight angles, to which Kohli and Suryakumar are only able to mistime a few singles on the off-side. SKY then looks to go over the top but hasn’t yet got to grips with the Fizz yet so the fielder at extra cover cuts it off easily.
2.23 pm Over 10 India 86-2 (Kohli 24*, Suryakumar 7*) – SKY continues red-hot form with early boundary
India are not going to let Shakib put the squeeze on and instantly milk a few singles and twos before Suryakumar Yadav instantly punishes a freebie wide delivery with a square cut for four.
2.19 pm Over 9.2 India 78-2 (Kohli 23*) – OUT! Rahul falls to Shakib immediately after reaching 50
Rahul was going so well but immediately after reaching his fifty, he top-edges a back-of-length ball on leg stump to Mustafizur, who pouches the catch easily at short fine leg. A much-needed breakthrough for the Tigers on the stroke of drinks break!
2.17 pm Over 9 India 76-1 (Rahul 48*, Kohli 23*) – Rahul regains form with a little help from Shoriful’s no-ball
Shoriful returns and immediately, his full ball outside off-stump is dispatched past mid-off for a boundary by Kohli. The left-arm seamer improves over the next two balls, conceding just a single on the third. But he overpitches once again and oversteps to Rahul, who smashes him over wide long on. Shoriful is crumbling under pressure, missing his wide yorker by a long way, and forced to rebowl his free hit. Rahul’s response to the free hit itself is probably the shot of the match so far, using masterful wrist work to score a six over point. And the onslaught isn’t over either, as Rahul finds the gap between third man and deep backward point for another four. 24 runs off that Shoriful over as India take the ascendancy!
2.11 pm Over 8 India 52-1 (Rahul 31*, Kohli 18*) – India get off to strong start against Shakib matchup
Captain Shakib brings himself on, looking to capitalise on his favourable matchups against Kohli and right-hand batsmen in general. India don’t have a left-hander in the lineup to counter-attack him, so Rahul and Kohli just knock the ball around for now. But Shakib hasn’t quite got his lengths right yet, and Kohli punishes him with a boundary to cow corner. In the end, it’s been among India’s more productive overs.
2.07 pm Over 7 India 42-1 (Rahul 23*, Kohli 16*) – India survive Taskin’s spell with risk-free approach
Shakib continues his attacking strategy, choosing to bowl out Taskin already and trusting the rest of the pace attack with the death overs. But given that the white ball is now 6 overs old, Taskin isn’t able to get as much movement, relying instead on his lengths and hurrying the batsmen with pace and bounce. The Bangladesh fielders are coming into their own finally, as Litton Das does excellently at short cover to prevent Kohli from scoring a boundary. A quiet end to one of the best wicketless T20 spells.
2.02 pm Over 6 India 37-1 (Rahul 21*, Kohli 13*)
Mustafizur Rahman rounds out the powerplay with his signature slower length deliveries angling in to the right-hand batsman. While Rahul gets a couple off the second delivery, he continues to struggle to score easily on this green-tinged Adelaide surface. Commentator Shane Watson predicts that Kohli will approach the Fizz like he’s a faster left-arm spinner and his first ball runs past the slip for four, as Kohli plays with soft hands to prevent the catch opportunity.
1.57 pm Over 5 India 30-1 (Rahul 18*, Kohli 9*) – India start counterattacking but Taskin remains on the money
Taskin is given a third over as a counter-attacking method by Shakib due to Rahul’s show of intent. But Taskin makes a rare error, overpitching outside off stump. Kohli gets aggressive early, consecutive boundaries, one just over the cover point infielder and the second a fortunate edge over first slip. But Taskin remains unfazed as ever, responding with back of length deliveries shaping away and causing Kohli to play and miss. Four dots for Taskin after the two boundaries in a good comeback
1.52 pm Over 4 India 22-1 (Rahul 18*, Kohli 1*)
Following the wicket, Hasan continues to bowl short but at times far too wide. This causes Rahul to finally get going with a fortuitous four over deep third man and then a masterful six over cover point!
1.48 pm Over 3.1 India 11-1 (Rahul 8*) OUT! Hasan Mahmud makes up for the drop by dismissing Rohit
The guilty fielder, Hasan Mahmud, now comes on for the fourth over to try and make an impact with the ball and he does so near instantly, removing Rohit. Hasan bowls it short just outside off stump, Rohit tries to create room for himself to play the square cut over the top but it’s not enough and it’s straight to Yasir Ali at backward point. The pressure works for the Bangla Tigers!
1.47 pm Over 3 India 11-0 (Rahul 8*, Rohit 2*) – Let-off for Rohit as Hasan Mahmud drops a regulation catch
A beautiful delivery from Taskin to start off the third over, as Rohit was fortunate not to edge that through to the keeper. Rohit responds with more attacking intent and giving himself room but plays and misses again. He connects on the off-side on third ball but can’t beat the infield. One ball later, Rohit attempts to repeat Rahul’s six but hits it straight down square leg’s throat but the fielder, Hasan Mahmud, drops an absolute sitter. What a let-off for the Indian captain! But Taskin is unfazed and continues to put India under dot-ball pressure.
1.42 pm Over 2 India 10-0 (Rahul 8*, Rohit 1*) – Rahul hits first six but openers have sedate start overall
The new man in the side, left-arm pacer Shoriful, is trusted with the second over and two slips by Shakib. Much like Parnell did at Perth but at a slower pace today, Shoriful’s lines and lengths are disciplined at first but oversteps on his second ball, giving Rahul a much-needed pressure release opportunity. But Rahul cannot take advantage of a full ball on his pads and misses an easy flick. Shoriful errs again on the leg side, allowing Rahul to get off strike, while Rohit takes a single off the very next ball. And it’s finally on the penultimate ball of the over that Rahul unleashes with a pickup shot over square leg for a 91 metre six!
1:36 pm: Over 1 India 1-0 (Rahul 1*, Rohit 0*) – Taskin extracts early bounce and out-swing in Adelaide
With the aim of putting India’s unconvincing opening partnership under fire by placing two slips, Bangladesh’s in-form express pacer Taskin Ahmed has taken the new ball after the conclusion of the national anthems. And immediately he extracts some bounce and movement off this Adelaide pitch, forcing a play-and-miss from KL Rahul. The out-of-form India opener is understandably watchful and lets the next ball go straight through to the keeper, but fails to read the out-swing on the very next ball.
Shakib has responded by putting a third slip, almost akin to a test match. Shakib has packed the off-side too seemingly with Taskin aiming to target the area just outside off stump. But Rahul finally gets bat on ball, playing with soft hands to give his opening partner, Rohit, the strike. Rohit simply offers a forward defence off the final ball.
1:10 pm: Bangladesh have won the toss and chosen to field first, with captain Shakib al Hasan revealing one change in his lineup from the side that narrowly defeated Zimbabwe at the Gabba. Pacer Shoriful Islam replaces top order batsman Soumya Sarkar.
India captain Rohit Sharma says the toss worked out in his favour anyway as he would have elected to bat first on this cold day in Adelaide. Rohit also reveals that the Hooda experiment has been short-lived as left-arm spin allrounder Axar Patel comes back into the starting XI.
Also read: ‘We respect each other’s game,’ Suryakumar enjoys growing partnership with Kohli