Rohit Sharma’s half-century, Hardik Pandya’s cameo and a disciplined performance by the bowlers helped India register a 45-run win over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup opener here on Wednesday.
The visitors overcame a shaky start to post 166 for six before restricting the hosts to 121 for seven in 20 overs.
Earlier, Rohit hit 83 off 55 balls after Bangladesh, opting to bowl on a rain-soaked pitch, made good use of the conditions to put the visitors in trouble at a packed Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Al-Amin Hossain bowled opener Shikhar Dhawan for two before skipper Mashrafe Mortaza got rid of the in-form Virat Kohli who offered an easy catch to Mahmudullah at mid-off after making just eight.
With the first six overs yielding just 31 runs, India began to feel the pressure once Mahmudullah castled Suresh Raina for 13 to leave it struggling at 42 for three.
Rohit and Yuvraj Singh steadied the innings with a 55-run fourth-wicket partnership before Hardik Pandya, who hammered 31 off 18 balls, provided India the much-needed impetus.
Rohit was dropped by Shakib on 21 off Taskin Ahmed, and promptly made Bangladesh pay dearly as he hit two fours and a six off the next three balls of the over. He struck seven fours and three sixes for his 10th half-century in T20Is.
In reply, Bangladesh never got going, losing wickets at regular intervals. It made a poor start, slumping to 15 for two in the fourth over.
Its cause was not helped by the fact Shakib Al Hasan was left stranded after a mix-up with Sabbir. Incidentally, Nehra, Bumrah, Pandya and R. Ashwin all conceded a niggardly 23 runs in their four-over spells.
