Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav led India to a convincing win over Bangladesh at the Twenty20 World Cup, moving India to the top of Group 1 in the Super Eight stage. Pandya’s explosive 50 off 27 balls, featuring four boundaries and three sixes, propelled India to a formidable total of 196-5. Kuldeep Yadav’s impressive bowling performance, taking 3-19 in his four overs, restricted Bangladesh to 146-8.
India’s innings started strongly with captain Rohit Sharma scoring a quick 23 off 11 balls, followed by Virat Kohli’s 37 off 28, including three sixes. Despite a mid-innings wobble with the dismissals of Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav in quick succession, Rishabh Pant and Shivam Dube steadied the ship. Dube’s 34 off 24 balls and Pandya’s late onslaught ensured a strong finish, with India adding 62 runs in the last five overs.
In response, Bangladesh made a steady start but faltered once Pandya and Yadav took control. Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan provided a decent opening, but the middle order crumbled under pressure from India’s bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh also contributed with two wickets each, sealing India’s fifth win over Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup.
Afghanistan kept their semifinal hopes alive with a stunning 21-run victory over Australia. Batting first, Afghanistan posted 148-6, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran adding 118 for the highest opening partnership against Australia in a T20 match. Despite Pat Cummins taking a hat-trick, his second in as many games, Australia struggled with the bat, managing only 127 runs.
Glenn Maxwell’s 59 off 41 balls was the lone bright spot in Australia’s innings. Guldabin Naib’s four-wicket haul and Azmatullah Omarzai’s final wicket of Adam Zampa ensured Afghanistan’s memorable win, moving them to two points in Group 1, level with Australia but behind on net run rate. The group standings will be decided on Monday when Afghanistan faces Bangladesh and Australia plays India, with the latter match taking place in St. Lucia.