India on Saturday (October 12) set the record for the highest team total in T20I cricket by a Test playing nation by finishing at 297/6 against Bangladesh at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
India are now second behind Nepal in terms of highest team total in the history of T20I cricket. Nepal scored 314/3 against Mongolia in Asia Games 2023.
However, India fell just three runs short against a Bangladesh bowling unit featuring Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Mahedi Hasan, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
It was Mayhem in Hyderabad after India won the toss and elected to bat first. Sanju Samson(111 off 47) brought up his maiden hundred off just 40 – the second fastest by an Indian batter in the format. India’s new T20I captain also went berserk, scoring 75 off 35 balls.
The duo combined together to score 19 fours, and 13 sixes. Later, Riyan Parag (34 off 13) and Hardik Pandya (47 off 18) also smashed four sixes each to help India set a colossal target. Later, India restricted Bangladesh at 164/7 to win the series by a 3-0 margin.
Why are fans thanking Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for India’s stellar batting performances against Bangladesh?
Bangladesh were bundled out for 127 in the first T20I in Gwalior as India chased down the target in just 11.5 overs. In the second T20I in Delhi, India scored 221/9 to win the match by 86 runs. The score of 297/6 in the third T20I emerged as the cherry on the top.
The ultra-aggressive batting performance by Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian T20I side has forced the fans to thank Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The star batters announced their retirement from T20I cricket after India won the T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados on June 29.
Their retirement has given opportunity to the likes of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma to open, and for Suryakumar Yadav to bat at three. Opener Samson and Suryakumar Yadav partnered for 172 runs off just 70 balls in the third T20I against Bangladesh.
Sanju Samson is the Best Replacement of Rohit Sharma in T20I
– Sanju & Yashasvi Opening for India in T20 World Cup 2026 will be a Treat to watch 💥
– Haters wants to Drop Sanju, but, today Sanju Dropped the Hardest Ever 💯 #SanjuSamson #INDvBAN
pic.twitter.com/Iq5R3eAp8l— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) October 12, 2024
https://x.com/Samsoncentral/status/1845155228691165683
Their retirement has also led to the Indian thinktank try out new combinations. Under Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir, India are focusing a lot on the all-rounders, and batters who can also bowl.
Nitish Reddy has made his debut, and the likes of Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh and even captain Surya are bowling. Hardik Pandya and Washington Sundar are already there to bolster both bowling as well as the batting attack.
The increased depth, and a more attacking top-order batters have made the world champions a more lethal team in the T20I format. Without showing any disrespect per say, fans are also crediting Kohli and Rohit for India’s updated ultra-aggressive approach in the fast and the furious T20I cricket.
