Nitish Kumar Reddy announced himself on the international stage with a flamboyant 74 as a youthful Indian side delivered yet another commanding performance to thrash Bangladesh by 86 runs in the second T20I here on Wednesday. With the win, the hosts took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The 21-year-old Reddy (74 off 34 balls) played the most attractive innings of his nascent career while also taking a couple of wickets (2/23) with his seam bowling.
Reddy combined with Rinku Singh (53 off 29), who too sizzled with a blistering fifty, to help India post 221/9 after being asked to bat.
Feels great to represent India, feel so proud about this moment. Grateful for everything. I should give credit to captain and coach. They gave me the licence to play fearless cricket. I took my time initially, but after that no-ball everything went in my favour. It feels great to play for the Indian team. I want to continue in this same way. Want to keep repeat such good performances.
I wanted that situation, wanted my batters (5,6,7) in that situation. Happy for both (Rinku and Nitish) of them. They batted exactly the way I wanted. You got to go out there and express. Just the jersey changes, rest remaining remains the same. I wanted to see what different bowlers can do in different situations. Can they give me the difficult overs. Sometimes Hardik won't bowl, sometimes Washington Sunday won't bowl. I wanted to see what the other guys had in store, really happy with it. It was his (Nitish) day, I thought let him enjoy and make it large.
I think we made the same mistakes (like the first game), not a good thing as a team. We need to improve. I think it was a good decision (to bowl). They batted well after the first 6-7 overs, we didn't execute our plans. Need to take responsibilities as batsmen. We got to believe in ourselves. The way our bowlers bowled, they were impressive. We couldn't take wickets in the middle overs.
(Thought process) I keep telling myself to remain calm in tough situations. It comes naturally to me as I have been playing at this position for a long time. I practise accordingly as well. I have talked a lot regarding this with Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) which has helped. When you lose 3-4 wickets, you need to have self belief. (Partnership with Nitish Kumar) We just wanted to build a partnership as the wicket was slightly slow, rotate strike and punish the bad balls. The momentum swung after that free-hit (off Mahmudullah) and Nitish gained a lot of confidence.
Clinical India hammer Bangladesh to seal series
— BCCI (@BCCI)
India beat Bangladesh by 86 runs to take unassailable 2-0 series lead
That's it! Its all over at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in the national capital. A terrific win for India as they seal series, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The hosts crush Bangladesh by 86 runs in the second game with batters hogging the limelight.
Nitish Reddy completes the final over as Bangladesh manage 135 for 9 in steep 222 chase. He baaged his second wicket in form of Mahmudullah in the last over of the match.
After Nitish and Rinku Singh blazing fifties took India to their highest T20I score (221/9) against Bangladesh, bowlers fired in unison to hand India a clinical win.
For the hosts, Varun Chakaravarthy and Nitish Reddy bagged a couple of wickets each while 5 other bowlers bagged a wicket apiece.
Mahmudullah (41) was the top scorer for Bangladesh.
India vs Bangladesh Live Score: Final 6 balls to go!
L1 0 1 1 L1 1 - Arshdeep Singh bowls a really good penultimate over, giving away just 5 runs in it. Final 6 balls to go and Mahmudullah is on 41. He will look to get to his fifty in the final over. Nitish Reddy to bowl the final over of the game. 127/9 in 19.1 overs
IND vs BAN Live score: Nitish strikes now!
OUT! India just two wickets away from victory! Nitish Reddy claims his first wicket of the evening as Bangladesh are now 8 down. Tanzim Hasan is caught at long-off by Hardik Pandya for 8. BAN 120/8 in 17.4 overs
India vs Bangladesh Live Score: Final 18 balls to go!
With 105 runs needed more, a win is out of question for Bangladesh from here. Mahmudullah, playing his penultimate game of T20I career is on 38 and will look to entertain the crowd in the remaining 18 balls. Nitish Reddy comes back to bowl the 18th over. BAN 117/7 in 17 overs
IND vs BAN Live score: Lovely connection!
SIX! An 87-metre strike as the ball sails into the second tier! It was a tossed up delivery round off from Varun Chakaravarthy and Mahmudullah read the length well. Clubs it hard as the ball disappears into the stands. BAN 110/7 in 15.4 overs
India vs Bangladesh Live Score: SIX! Bang! 100 up for Bangladesh!
Launched! Mayank Yadav digs in a short ball and Mahmudullah smashes it over the deep mid-wicket fence. He read the length early and middled the ball to perfection. 100 also came up for Bangladesh with that cracking strike from Mahmudullah.
IND vs BAN Live score: Hardik pulls off a stunner at the fence!
OUT! Hardik Pandya has pulled off a screamer at the deep fence. Bangladesh are now 7 down as Varun Chakaravarthy strikes for the second time. It was a length ball from Varun and Rishad Hossain went for a big heave on the on side. Hardik ran around 27 metres from deep mid-wicket towards long-on and ended up plucking a stunning running catch. Hosain walks back for 9 as Bangladesh inch closer to a huge defeat. BAN 93/7 in 13.3 overs
India vs Bangladesh Live Score: Required rate over 18 now!
With 42 balls remaining, Bangladesh need another 129 runs and they are 6 down. India marching strongly towards a big series sealing win. Six runs came off Riyan Parag's second over. Varun Chakaravarthy now comes back into the attack for the hosts. BAN 93/6 in 13 overs
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IND vs BAN Live score: Mayank bags his first of the evening!
OUT! Bangladesh are all out out now in this chase of 222. They are now 6 down with just 86 on the board. Speedster Mayank Yadav strikes as he gets rid of Jaker Ali for 1. A back of length delivery at stumps from Mayank and Jaker went for the pull. Hits the ball straight into the hands of Washington Sundar at deep square leg. BAN 83/6 in 11.4 overs
India vs Bangladesh Live Score: Bangladesh 5 down now!
OUT! Riyan Parag joins the party. He strikes on the final ball of his first over. A tossed up delivery outside off and Mehidy Hasan went for the inside-out shot through the off side. Mistimes and ends up hitting the ball straight down substitute Ravi Bishnoi's throat at long-off. Hasan walks back for 16. BAN 80/5 in 10.6 overs
IND vs BAN Live score: Launched!
SIX! Riyan Parag comes into the attack and Mahmudullah welcomes him with a meaty hit down town. Parag starts off with a tossed up loosner around off and Mahmudullah smashes it over the long-on fence with absolute ease.
At halfway mark | Bangladesh 70/4 | Run rate - 7
Mehidy Hasan 15*
Mahmudullah 10*
Partnership: 24*(20)
Abhishek Sharma 1/10
Bangladesh need another 152 runs off 60 balls at 15.2 RPO
India vs Bangladesh Live Score: Required rate is now 14.64 RPO for Bangladesh
1 1 1 1 2 1 - Abhishek Sharma bowls a seven-run second over as asking rate continues to climb for Bangladesh. Both Mehidy Hasan and Mahmudullah will have to look for more scoring opportunities before the required rate goes out of bounds for Bangladesh. Speedster Mayank Yadav now comes into the attack for India. BAN 61/4 in 9 overs
IND vs BAN Live score: Spin at both ends for India!
2 0 4 1 0 1 - Varun Chakaravarthy goes for 8 in his second over that also had a boundary in it. But India still controlling the game pretty much. Abhishek Sharma to continue from the other end for the hosts. BAN 54/4 in 8 overs
IND vs BAN Live score: Now, Abhishek strikes!
OUT! Bangladesh are now 4 down and it all sorts of troubles. Left-arm spinner Abhishek Sharma strikes in his first over as Towhid Hridoy chops on for 2. A nice, flighted delivery from Abhishek around off and Towhid was looking to hit it across. Gets the inside edge and the ball crashes back into his stumps. India on top of Bangladesh in this second game! 46/4 in 6.5 overs
End of Powerplay | Bangladesh 43/3 | Run rate - 7.17
Towhid Hridoy 1*
Mehidy Hasan 1*
Varun Chakaravarthy 1/1
Washington Sundar 1/4
Bangladesh need another 179 runs off 84 balls at 12.79 RPO
IND vs BAN Live score: Varun strikes first-ball!
OUT! Another one goes down for Bangladesh as India are right on top in this contest. Varun Chakaravarthy comes into the attack and is in business straightaway. It was a googly from Varun and it came really slowly to Litton Das. Looking for a big heave on the on side, Litton misses the ball completely as it crashes into his stumps. Das departs for 14. BAN 42/3 in 5.1 overs
IND vs BAN Live score: Sundar strikes third-ball
OUT! Big blow for Bangladesh as they lose skipper Najmul Shanto for just 11. Washington Sundar strikes in his first over as India land a serious blow to Bangladesh. Looking to hit a fuller ball at stumps from Sundar down town, Shanto mistimes it straight down the throat of Hardik Pandya at long-on fence. BAN 40/2 in 4.3 overs
India vs Bangladesh Live Score: Das goes bigg!
SIX! Litton Das cracks his first boundary of the chase and it is maximum down the ground. Smoked into the stands! A slower ball from Nitish Reddy and it landed in the arc for Das. He gets under the ball and launches it over long-on fence. Spin introduced by India now as Washington Sundar replaces Arshdeep Singh. BAN 38/1 in 4 overs
IND vs BAN Live score: Shanto starts with consecutive boundaries
FOUR! FOUR! Bangladesh captain Najmul Shanto comes in and starts off with back-to-back boundaries off Arshdeep Singh. A glance and a pull on the on-side as Shanto shows intent straightaway in this tall chase against India. BAN 28/1 in 2.5 overs
IND vs BAN Live score: Arshdeep draws first blood!
OUT! Knocked him over! You miss, I hat! Arshdeep Singh strikes as Parvez Emon is knocked over for 16. Looking for a big heave on the leg side, Emon swings his bat but misses the good length ball from Arshdeep completely. The ball crashes into Emon's off stump. Arshdeep gives a stare to Emon in a fiery send-off. BAN 20/1 in 2.3 overs
India vs Bangladesh Live Score: Tidy start from Nitish
1 1 1 0 1 2 - After an explosive knock with the bat, 'bowler' Nitish Reddy is spot in his first over. Four singles and a couple came in his first over. Both Bangladesh openers looking good against the new ball and will be looking to make the most of the fielding restrictions. BAN 20/0 in 2 overs
IND vs BAN Live score: Emon takes on Arshdeep!
FOUR! FOUR! Parvez Hossain Emon gets going as he fires consecutive boundaries to end Arshdeep Singh's first over. Both the boundaries were hit down the ground off the full length deliveries from Arshdeep as 14 runs came in the first over. Nitish Reddy to share the new ball with Arshdeep from the other end.
India vs Bangladesh Live Score: A boundary first-ball!
FOUR! Up and over! A full, away-swinger from Arshdeep Singh Parvez Hossain Emon chips it over the in-field on the off side. Clears the fielder as the ball comfortably gets to the fence. Emon and Bangladesh open their account with a boundary! BAN 4/0 in 0.1 overs
IND vs BAN Live score: The chase is on in Delhi!
Parvez Emon and Litton Das are in the middle to begin this steep 222 chase for Bangladesh. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh to start the proceedings for India. Two slips in place for Arshdeep. Emon on strike. Here we go!
IND vs BAN Live score: India make their highest-ever T20I score against Bangladesh, surpassing 196 for 5 in North Sound in T20 World Cup 2024
— BCCI (@BCCI)
Nitish, Rinku hit fiery fifties as India score 221/9 in 20 overs
That's it! Rishad Hossain completes the final over of the innings as India amass 221 for nine after being put into bat by Bangladesh skipper Shanto.
Rishad strikes thrice in the final over against the run of play, getting rid of Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakaravarthy and Arshdeep Singh and gave away 8 runs in it.
The crowd at the Arun Jaitley Stadium was delighted by fiery fifties from Nitish Reddyy and Rinku Singh and India have got a really good total on the board.
Nitish and Rinku added 108 runs off 49 balls during their breathtaking stand and India smashed at total of 15 sixes in their innings.
This is now India's first ever 200-plus total against Bangladesh in T20Is.
India vs Bangladesh Live Score: SIX! SIX! OUT!
Tanzim Hasan ends Riyan Parag's 6-ball 15 cameo. After getting whacked for back-to-back sixes, Tanzim bowls a slower bouncer. Parag was looking to slog it on the leg side but is beaten by the off pace. Ball takes the leading edge off his bat and shoots straight up. Mahmudullah comes in from long-on to complete an easy catch. IND 213/6 in 19 overs
IND vs BAN Live score: 200 up for India!
FOUR! Tanzim Hasan bowls a length ball right in the arc of Hardik Pandya as he dispatches the ball to the deep mid-wicket fence with absolute ease. With that boundary from Hardik, India 200 also came up. Both Hardik and Riyan Parag will now look the make the most of the final 10 balls.
India vs Bangladesh Live Score: Hardik goes bigg!!!
SIX! Mustafizur Rahman comes back into the attack and starts off with a slower 116.8kph ball at stumps. The ball lands right in the arc of Hardik Pandya as he fires the ball over the long-on fence. IND 191/5 in 17.1 overs
IND vs BAN Live score: Taskin ends Rinku's blitz
OUT! Against the run of play, Taskin Ahmed has produced a perfect over in the death. The 17th over from him saw just three runs coming from it and on the final ball he has managed to get rid of dangerman Rinku Singh. Looking to club Tasking final ball over the deep fence, Rinku mistimes and hits it down the throat of Jaker Ali at the fence. Rinku falls for 53. IND 185/5 in 16.6 overs
IND vs BAN Live score: FOUR! SIX! and FIFTY for Rinku!
An outstanding knock this has been from Rinku Singh. A fifty off just 26 balls. A sizzling display of stroke-play from the swashbuckling left-hander. Gets to his third T20I half-century with consecutive boundaries off Tanzim Hasan. What a show from Rinku! IND 182/4 in 16 overs
India vs Bangladesh Live Score: Rinku in 40s!
FOUR! A bumper on the body from Tanzim Hasan and Rinku Singh just helps it along the bay. With the fine-leg fielder inside the circle, Rinku places his pull shot to perfection as the ball races the fence.
IND vs BAN Live score: Hardik tees off straightaway
FOUR! SIX! Hardik takes three balls to gets his eyes in and he then fires Rishad Hossain for back-to-back boundaries. A four down the ground and Hardik follows it up with a perfect inside-out loft over the deep extra-cover fence. IND 162/4 in 14.3 overs
India vs Bangladesh Live Score: Mustafizur breaks 108-run stand
OUT! Mustafizur Rahman strikes and Bangladesh will now have a sigh of relief. Dangerman Nitish Reddy falls as a 108-run stand between him and Rinku Singh comes to an end. A slower back of hand ball from Mustafizur and Nitish was looking to hit it on the on side. Mistimes as the ball balloons straight up. Mehidy Hasan completes an easy catchat extra-covers. A sizzling 34-ball 74 knock from Nitish ends as he receives a standing ovation from the crowd. IND 149/4 in 13.3 overs
IND vs BAN Live score: Massive 26-run over for India
1 6 4 2 6 Wd 6 - Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been takien to the cleaners by Nitish Reddy. Three sixes and a four were hit by Nitish off Hasan as he has now moved into the 70s. Nitish eyeing a ton? Mustafizur Rahman now comes back into the attack for Bangladesh. IND 148/3 in 13 overs
India vs Bangladesh Live Score: Nitish Reddy and Rinku Singh raise 100-run stand off just 45 balls
IND vs BAN Live score: Nitish in top gear!
SIX! FOUR! Nitish Reddy has gone absolutely berserk now! He is dealing in boundaries after getting to his maiden fifty. Takes on Mehidy Hasan, slamming him for consecutive boundaries. A maximum into the deep midwicket stands and Nitish follows it up with a cracking four in the same direction.
IND vs BAN Live score: Maiden fifty for Nitish!
A cracker of a knock this has been from Nitish Reddy. A maiden half-century off just 27 balls and it has come at a strike rate of over 185. Incredible stroke-play Nitish has displayed. Smokes a boundary down town off Taskin Ahmed and then takes an easy single to raise his fifty. IND 121/3 in 11.5 overs
IND vs BAN Live score: Bang! SIX!
Incredible shot from Nitish! A short-arm jab down town from Nitish and the ball sails over the long-on fence. Mustafizur bowled length around off and Nitish read the length early. Stays back and middles the ball to perfection. IND 109/3 in 10.4 overs
At halfway mark | India 101/3 | Run rate - 10.1
Nitish Reddy 36*
Rinku Singh 26*
Partnership: 60*(28)
IND vs BAN Live score: Nitish fires back-to-back sixes!
SIX! SIX! Nitish Reddy looking really dangerous now. He takes on Rishad Hossain as he slams him for back-to-back maximums. A cracking hit down town and Nitish then follows it up with a lovely hit to the over deep midwicket fence.
India vs Bangladesh Live Score: Crunched through the off side
FOUR! 15 runs off the Mahmudullah over as Nitish Reddy ends it with a lovely boundary through the off side. After surviving a LBW review on the previous ball, Nitish fires the Mahmudullah last ball of the over to the extra-cover fence. IND 77/3 in 9 overs
IND vs BAN Live score: Free-hit and put way by Nitish
SIX! Bang! Mahmudullah over-stepped on the previous ball and Nitish Reddy made the most of the free-hit. Mahmudullah fired in a 97.7kph delivery at stumps and Nitish launched the free-hit into the long-on stands for his first maximum. IND 73/3 in 8.4 overs