Brilliant performances from individuals have always tilted the game in favour of their side. India-Bangladesh encounters are no different. Over the years, batsmen from both sides have made vital contributions and helped their team win. Let us take a look at the top 5 batting performances in India v Bangladesh ODIs.
The New Age Bangladesh boys - 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup at Port of Spain
India got off to a horrific start to their 2007 World Cup campaign as they lost to Bangladesh. Batting first, India were all out for 191 in 49.3 overs. It was all down to the Indian bowlers but the trio of Tamim Iqbal (51), Mushfiqur Rahim (56*) and Shakib Al Hasan (53) made sure they chase it down successfully & register a historic win over India. The sight of a 17-year-old Tamim Iqbal dancing down the track and smashing Zaheer Khan for a six over long-on is still fresh in the minds of cricket lovers worldwide.
Gambhir’s 107 vs Bangladesh – 2008 Kitply Cup at Dhaka
The third match of the 2008 series in Bangladesh saw the hosts post a total of 222. Chasing a modest total, India got off to a perfect start, thanks to the opening pair of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag. While Sehwag departed after scoring 59, Gambhir kept going at the other end. The Delhi-born opener anchored the innings and scored an unbeaten 107 in 101 balls. With 13 fours and 1 six, Gambhir took calculated risks to see his team through & was rightly named Man of the Match.
Sehwag’s 175 vs Bangladesh – 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup at Dhaka
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup got off to a perfect start for Team India and Virender Sehwag. The opener smashed 175 in just 140 balls & lived up to the reputation of being a destructive top-order batsman. Sehwag spared no Bangladesh bowler as he struck the ball at a strike rate of 125. His knock included 14 fours and 5 sixes as he got out in the 48th over of the innings. No Bangladesh bowler had an economy of less than 6 that day, such was the brutal force from the Nawab of Najafgarh’s bat. That innings was good enough for the Indian team to register a commanding victory at Dhaka.
Kohli’s 136 vs Bangladesh – 2014 Asia Cup at Fatullah
The second game of the 2014 Asia Cup saw these two nations fighting it out. Bangladesh, batting first made 279, thanks to Mushfiqur Rahim’s 117 and Anamul Haque’s 77. But, then stand-in-skipper Virat Kohli did what he does best: play a match-winning innings in a tough run chase. Captain Kohli scored 136 in just 122 balls as he showed complete authority after India lost both their openers just past the 50-run mark. He struck 16 fours and 2 sixes to make the chase simpler than it looked in real.
Rohit’s 137 vs Bangladesh – 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup at Melbourne
India won the toss and elected to bat in the quarter-final of 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup and Rohit Sharma made sure they did the right thing. The stylish opener took his time early on but smashed a match-winning 137 off 126 balls to help India post a match-winning total of 302. Rohit’s knock included 14 fours and 3 sixes as the opposition bowlers failed to curb him in the second half of their bowling. The next best score was by Suresh Raina (65), which tells us how important the knock was.
A gripping contest awaits all of us on 15th June! Will we see another knock added to this list?
Scoreboard credits: Cricinfo
