Varun, Hardik star as young India brush aside Bangladesh, take 1-0 series lead

India vs Bangladesh, 1st T20I: Mayank Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy and Arshdeep Singh starred with the ball to help India beat Bangladesh by seven wickets in Gwalior. India chased down the 128-run target with 49 balls to spare.

In Short

• India beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets in 1st T20I to take a 1-0 lead
• Varun and Arshdeep took 3 wickets each to restrict Bangladesh to 127
• Hardik and Suryakumar played entertaining knocks in Gwalior

IPL's pace sensation Mayank Yadav made an impressive debut and wrist spinner Varun Chakravarthy shone on his T20I comeback to guide India to a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh at the newly constructed Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium on Sunday. India, despite fielding two debutants and retaining just three players from their T20 World Cup-winning squad, comfortably outplayed Bangladesh, who had an almost unchanged lineup from the World Cup.

Mayank made a promising debut, while Varun marked an impressive comeback to help India skittle out Bangladesh for 127 and then gunned down the target in 11.5 overs thanks to quick cameos from Suryakumar Yadav (29), Sanju Samson (29) and Hardik Pandya (39*). The match also marked the return of international cricket to Gwalior after 14 years, with the newly built stadium making its international debut.

T20 BATTING MASTERCLASS

With regular openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill unavailable, Sanju Samson, given another opportunity to open, got India off to a quick start with two elegant boundaries. His partner, Abhishek Sharma, was more aggressive, smashing Taskin Ahmed for a six and two boundaries in the second over. However, Sharma's innings was cut short by a run-out, leaving India at 25/1.

Sanju Samson set the tone with a sublime drive down the ground, while Abhishek Sharma followed up with a towering six off Taskin Ahmed, marking the beginning of a difficult evening for the Bangladeshi pacer. Despite losing Abhishek to a run-out in the second over, India had already racked up 15 runs and continued their aggressive approach.

Suryakumar Yadav, in typical fashion, unleashed a flurry of innovative strokes, particularly targeting the area behind square with audacious slaps for sixes. Taskin was once again on the receiving end, as Suryakumar’s unorthodox hitting put Bangladesh under immense pressure. Although Suryakumar fell in the sixth over, India reached an imposing 71/2 at the end of the PowerPlay – their highest PowerPlay score against Bangladesh in T20Is and more than half of the required target.

IND vs BAN, 1st T20I: HIGHLIGHTS FROM GWALIOR

Sanju Samson's dismissal soon after didn’t slow India down. By the halfway mark, they had accelerated to 106/3. The finishing touch came from Hardik Pandya, who produced the shot of the match in the 12th over – a no-look ramp for four off Taskin, followed by another boundary and a six off a short ball. Hardik’s unbeaten 39 off just 16 balls sealed the chase in style, as India comfortably wrapped up the game.

MAYANK, ARSHDEEP, VARUN DISMISS BANGLADESH

All eyes were on 22-year-old Mayank Yadav (1/21) even before the toss, and he did not disappoint in his first competitive outing in over five months. Having garnered attention for consistently bowling in the 150 kmph range during the IPL, Mayank displayed serious pace in his opening spell of 2-1-3-1. Concerns had been raised about his long-term fitness following a side strain, but he alleviated some of those doubts, hitting speeds of 145.7 kmph and 148.7 kmph in his first two overs. Veteran Mahmudullah, wary of his pace, became Mayank's first international wicket, slicing a catch to Washington Sundar at deep point.

Varun Chakaravarthy (3/31), returning to the team after nearly three years, proved to be a challenge for Bangladesh's batters, who struggled to read him. His key moment came when he bowled Jaker Ali with a delivery that sharply turned back in. Despite conceding 15 runs in his first over, Varun bounced back by dismissing Towhid Hridoy (12), further destabilizing Bangladesh’s innings.

At 64 for five in 10 overs, Bangladesh's innings was floundering. India capitalized on their advantage, with Mayank returning to bowl the 13th and 19th overs, during which the Bangladesh batters used his pace to hit a few boundaries. However, Mayank finished strong, delivering a couple of yorkers.

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh (3/14) also played a key role, removing openers Litton Das and Parvez Hossain Emon in the powerplay before claiming his third wicket to wrap up Bangladesh’s innings. Hardik Pandya, alongside Arshdeep, opened the bowling for India.