The conditions at the R Premadasa Stadium were set up to challenge India\’s abilities. With no rain in sight and a pitch that had already been used, Captain Rohit Sharma aimed to evaluate how his batting lineup would perform against a spin-heavy Bangladesh team in the relatively unimportant Super 4 match.
In the end, India fell short by six runs in their quest to chase down a target of 266. This presented a classic situation where one could interpret the outcome positively or negatively. The most remarkable highlight was the exceptional performance of Shubman Gill, who crafted a magnificent century. Axar Patel also showcased his batting skills in the latter part of the innings, and Shardul Thakur made a significant impact by taking wickets. However, it became evident that medium-paced bowling also posed challenges for India.
In fact, aside from the exceptional Shakib, India managed to score against the other bowlers. Each of them conceded five or more runs per over. However, debutant Tanzim Hasan Sakib and the seasoned Mustafizur Rahman posed difficulties for the Indian team. Sakib made an immediate impact with a two-wicket burst at the beginning, while Rahman, as expected, displayed his prowess in the latter stages of the innings, securing five wickets. Rahman exhibited his customary range of skills, including cutters, angled deliveries, slower balls, and yorkers. Notably, he consistently recorded speeds exceeding 130 kph later in the innings.