Karthik, fast bowlers help India thrash Bangladesh by 240 runs

Shikhar Dhawan (60) also got runs under his belt against a quality Bangladesh attack comprising Mustafizur Rahaman (1/53), Rubel Hossain (3/50) and Taskin Ahmed (0/45) as India ran up 324 for seven and then dismissed Bangladesh for 84 in 23.5 overs. 

Chasing 325 for win, the Bangladesh top-order batting fell apart in the face of a hostile 10-over spell with the new ball from Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3-13) and Umesh Yadav (3-16). Bangladesh slumped to 22 for six and then to 47 for seven before a 30-run stand between Sunzamul Islam (18) and Mehedi Hasan (24) helped them get to the three-figure mark.

Hardik Pandya showed his utility as a useful all-rounder for India with an unbeaten 80 off 54 balls, which was laced with six boundaries and four huge sixes in the arc between mid-wicket and long-on. 

Courtesy of Hardik’s big hits towards the end, India crossed 300-run mark. Skipper Virat Kohli and former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni did not bat, giving others an op

portunity to get a good hit before the big-ticket Pakistan game. 

With Yuvraj Singh not coming out to bat, indicating that he was is to get fit, Karthik, after his failure against New Zealand, grabbed the second opportunity. He hit eight boundaries and a six and, in the process, also sent feelers to the team management that he is also a candidate for a middle-order slot. He added 100 runs with Dhawan for the third wicket after Rohit Sharma (1) and Ajinkya Rahane’s (11) lack of footwork saw them getting played on. Rohit was dismissed by Rubel while Mustafizur got the better of Rahane. But Karthik showed composure during his innings under mostly overcast conditions.

His first boundary was a cut shot off Taskin followed by a superb straight drive off Mustafizur. He was severe on off-spinner Mossadek Hossain and left- arm spinner Sunzamul Islam, cutting and pulling anything that was short. 

Sunzamul was pulled for a four and a six in one of the overs and he also ran the singles well. Dhawan hit seven fours -- mostly through off and cover -- and was more patient than Karthik, waiting for the loose balls. He faced 67 balls before holing out at mid-wicket off Sunzamul, who went for 74 in his nine overs. 

Kedar Jadhav (31) also got some batting time while Ravindra Jadeja (32) chipped in with useful contribution. Brief scores: India 324/7 (DK Karthik 94 retired, Hardik Pandya 80, Shikhar Dhawan 60, Kedar Jadhav 31, Jadeja 32) Bangladesh 84 in 23.5 overs (Umesh Yadav 3-16, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3-13).