In an epic clash at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, India faced off against Bangladesh in the seventh Super Eight fixture of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The match featured a moment of sheer brilliance by India’s spin wizard, Kuldeep Yadav, which proved pivotal in securing a 50-run victory for India.

Bangladesh’s Chase

Bangladesh’s chase started on a positive note with opener Tanzid Hasan looking to provide a strong foundation. His partnership with Litton Das showed promise, but the challenge lay in maintaining the momentum against a formidable Indian bowling attack.

See Also: T20 World Cup 2024, Super Eight: India move inch closer to Semifinals after 50-run victory against Bangladesh

Kuldeep Yadav’s magical over

The game’s momentum shifted dramatically in the 9.4th over, courtesy of Kuldeep Yadav. With Bangladesh at a steady 66/1, Tanzid Hasan faced a brilliant googly from Kuldeep.

Tanzid, attempting to cut the ball, was completely deceived by the sharp turn. The ball spun back quickly, hitting his pad. The appeal was upheld by the on-field umpire, and despite Tanzid’s review, the decision stood as three reds on the ball tracking confirmed the LBW. Tanzid’s crucial innings ended at 29 off 31 balls, leaving Bangladesh at 66/2.

Subsequent wickets by Kuldeep

Kuldeep’s brilliance didn’t end there. In his very next over, he dismissed Towhid Hridoy in a similar fashion, catching the batsman off guard with another well-disguised delivery. Towhid, attempting a defensive shot, was struck on the pad, and the on-field decision once again favored the bowler. Bangladesh’s position weakened further as their score read 70/3.

The veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan then took the crease, aiming to stabilize the innings. However, Kuldeep’s magic continued as he bowled a beauty to dismiss Shakib. The delivery spun sharply, and Shakib, misjudging the turn, was clean bowled. Bangladesh was now reeling at 98/4.

The Revenge

Earlier, Tanzim Hasan Shakib dismissed Virat Kohli, one of cricket’s greatest batters, in a dramatic fashion. The incident occurred in the 8.1 over when Tanzim bowled a brilliantly executed delivery, deceiving Kohli with its length and lack of pace. Tanzim’s aggressive celebration in front of Kohli after the dismissal was caught on camera.

Mid-Innings strategy

Facing a precarious situation, Bangladesh tried to regroup. Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah attempted to anchor the innings, focusing on building a partnership and taking the game deep. India, on the other hand, rotated their bowlers effectively, ensuring the pressure remained on the batting side.

Victory for India

Following Kuldeep’s breakthroughs, Bangladesh’s batting order collapsed. Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh capitalized on the pressure, taking crucial wickets in the middle and death overs. Bangladesh struggled to build partnerships and lost wickets at regular intervals.

Several critical moments defined the match. Hardik Pandya’s aggressive batting, Kuldeep Yadav’s magical over, and the collective effort of India’s bowlers were pivotal. Each event contributed to India’s comprehensive 50-run victory..