11.20pm On a night when Deepak Chahar walked away with all the plaudits, I'll leave you with this very warm recent interaction he had with colleague Saurabh Somani in Bengaluru. It's warm, it reveals the personality of a very shy man for whom nothing has come easy so far. Goodnight and do take good care of yourself. It's goodbye and goodnight from myself Shashank Kishore and Sreshth Shah. Cheers!
10.48pm Deepak Chahar's 6 for 7 may hog the limelight, but India also have Shivam Dube to thank for three big strikes, including those of Mushfiqur for a first-ball duck and top-scorer Naim. Without that, India may have well been under the pump. India went in with only five bowlers - Dube being the fifth, a proper gamble - and Rohit stands vindicated. India had plenty of nervy moments, none bigger than the period from overs 11-13 in the chase, but they've come through. Wins like these will make teams very happy, and the Indian camp will be delighted with this win, which they'll rate as one of their better ones. Mind you, there was plenty of dew and the bowlers found a way to negate that. A performance right out of the top drawer. Amid the bowling heroics, don't forget the half-centuries from KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer.
It's time for the presentations now.
Rohit Sharma: "It was the bowlers who won us the game. I know I have to say that being a batsman, but I know how tough it was given the dew. But this must be one of the best comebacks in this format for India. It was easy for them at one stage, with 70 needed in eight overs. But the boys showed characters, took up the responsibility., Good to see young players putting their hands up. I just reminded the boys [while under pressure] that we're playing for India [points to the crest]. Our body language was a little off in the first eight overs, but then we saw a different team India. I want to credit the batsmen too. KL, getting that knock was crucial, and Shreyas Iyer played an incredible knock.Until we get close to the World Cup, we have to find the right balance. Few guys are missing and will come back in, but keeping everything in mind, we've got quite a few games before narrowing in on a perfect 11. We can try hell lot of things before getting on that flight to Australia. If we keep playing like the way we did today, it'll be a good headache to have for Virat and the selectors."
Deepak Chahar is Man of the Match and Man of the series. His figures today, an incredible 6 for 7. He finishes the series with eight wickets. "I hadn't thought something like this would happen, delighted," he says. "I've just been wanting to work hard, it's all god's help that I'm here. Today the plan was to bowl upfront with the new ball. I was told I'll be bowling the crucial overs. Happy the team management gave me that responsibility."
Mahmudullah: Had our chances, Naim and Mithun's partnership was incredible to see but we lost wickets in the middle. I think the effort that boys have put in has been very good to see. Naim is a very talented batsman, the way he bats and composes his innings was good to see. Hope he'll continue. Our seamers have been very good, execution was good and all of them bowled really well.
Shreyas Iyer: It wasn't an even innings, I was dicey at the start. It wasn't an easy wicket, once I got in, I was like I'll give myself time and then put the loose balls away. I've hit big sixes in the past, just backed myself. I saw a part-time bowler had come in, so I decided to take him on right from the first ball and it worked [he says of his three sixes in a row]. It was important to have a tough game, and this one was tough. Hopefully we can carry forward this momentum."
"You have to see the amount of paneer and milk he drinks" Iyer laughs about Dube's secret of bowling the heavy ball.
Shivam Dube: First two overs didn't go well, I didn't want to concede a boundary in my third. Rohit bhai just asked me to back my strengths. I try and bowl the heavy ball, backed myself to do it.
Aminul Islam b Chahar 9 (9b 1x4 0x6) SR: 100.00
Mustafizur Rahman c Iyer b Chahar 1 (3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33
END OF OVER:19 | 9 Runs | BAN: 144/8 (31 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.57, RRR: 31.00)
- Mustafizur Rahman1 (2b)
- Aminul Islam9 (8b)
- Khaleel Ahmed4-0-27-0
- Deepak Chahar3-0-7-4
Param: "Your site says this is T20I no. 1014 and the Eng-NZ earlier today was numbered 1012.. did I miss a match in between? -- Chandan, my colleague from the scoring and data team has the answer: Malawi v Mozambique is 1013
END OF OVER:18 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | BAN: 135/8 (40 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.50, RRR: 20.00)
- Aminul Islam2 (4b)
- Deepak Chahar3-0-7-4
- Yuzvendra Chahal4-0-43-1
These are Chahar's best in T20Is yet
Shafiul Islam c Rahul b Chahar 4 (6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 66.66
You'd think this is beyond Bangladesh, but who knows? The scorecard may not tell you how rattled India were at one point
Chahar now to come back for his third. Two overs, 3 for 3 so far.
END OF OVER:17 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | BAN: 131/7 (44 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.70, RRR: 14.66)
- Shafiul Islam1 (1b)
- Aminul Islam1 (3b)
- Yuzvendra Chahal4-0-43-1
- Shivam Dube4-0-30-3
Chahal's the fastest to 50 T20I wickets for India. Overtakes Bumrah and Ashwin who got there at 41 and 42 matches respectively
Mahmudullah b Chahal 8 (10b 0x4 0x6) SR: 80.00