India Crushes Bangladesh in Final T20I, Sets Record Total
India delivered a crushing blow to Bangladesh in the final T20I, setting a new record by scoring an astounding 297 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The hosts’ powerful display included 22 sixes and around 25 boundaries, completely overpowering a Bangladeshi team that appeared outmatched throughout the series. This historic performance left Bangladesh’s bowlers looking lost and ineffective, a sight that may haunt the team’s confidence moving forward.
India’s dominance in the series was clear from the beginning, and the final match only further emphasized the vast difference in the teams’ abilities, particularly when it comes to power hitting. While Bangladesh managed to hit just eight sixes in the entire series, India’s Nitish Reddy alone launched eight sixes in the second T20I, highlighting the gap in strength and explosiveness between the sides. Bangladesh’s assistant coach Nic Pothas echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the superior physicality of India’s players.
“They have much stronger players. We are working on our strength and conditioning, but you can’t fight genetics. If one player weighs 95-100 kg and another is 65 kg, naturally the heavier player will hit the ball further. Of course, timing and technique are important, and we are constantly working on those aspects,” Pothas said in a press conference before the final match.
Throughout the series, Bangladesh’s batters struggled to find their footing, especially when confronted with the high-scoring pitches in India. Accustomed to playing on surfaces where 140-150 runs are competitive totals, the team found it difficult to adapt to games where 180-190 runs were necessary just to stay in contention. This unfamiliarity was evident as India dominated, racking up runs with ease.
Pothas pointed to the Indian Premier League (IPL) as a key factor in India’s superior preparation. The intense competition in the IPL, according to Pothas, helps players develop the skills and strength required to excel at the international level, particularly in power hitting. “The IPL prepares players for the international stage. Comparing India’s six-hitting with ours is like comparing how many sixes the West Indies hit compared to us,” he remarked.
Bangladesh’s young team, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, is still in the developmental stage, and this series has been a learning experience for them. However, the gap between the teams was stark, with India showing a mastery of the shorter format that Bangladesh could not match. The massive score of 297 and the barrage of sixes from the Indian side will serve as a reminder of the work that lies ahead for Bangladesh if they are to compete on the world stage.
