That has been the story against India: Shakib

Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan reminded everyone of the recurring theme that has dominated recent India-Bangladesh T20Is after the Tigers pushed India to the brink again before spiralling to an anticlimactic finish in the T20 World Cup.

The Super 12 match produced yet another thriller, this time at the Adelaide Oval in Brisbane, as the men in blue eked out a five-run win.

Bangladesh have never beaten India in a T20 World Cup and have won just once while losing 12 times in T20Is to their neighbours. But in recent years, the two teams have delivered several exciting contests with Bangladesh coming out second-best in all but one fixture, a solitary T20I win during a bilateral series in Delhi in 2019.

Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan alluded to that overarching theme, saying: “That has been the story when we play India. We are almost there but we can’t cross the finish line,” Shakib said at the post-match interview.

After being set a daunting target of 185, Bangladesh got off to a flying start courtesy of opener Liton Das. The right-hander smashed seven fours and three sixes during his 27-ball 60.

After a short rain interruption, the 28-year-old was hard-done by due to the wet surface as he slipped while pursuing a second run. KL Rahul made the most of that opportunity, producing a direct hit from deep mid-wicket to dismiss Liton.

He also added impetus to the innings with a 21-ball half-century, the second-fastest by a Bangladesh player and the second-fastest of the ongoing T20 World Cup.

But all his efforts were ultimately in vain as the blow knocked the wind out of Bangladesh’s sail.

A late flurry from Nurul Hasan Sohan, who was unbeaten on a 14-ball 25, raised hopes of the millions glued to their TVs and the few thousand in Adelaide, but the Tigers again faltered despite a valiant effort.

India bettered Bangladesh in the 2016 Asia Cup final before handing Bangladesh an infamous one-run defeat in that year’s T20 World Cup.

Bangladesh also played the Nidahas Trophy final against India in 2018 and had the win in hand, with India requiring 12 runs off the last over. But Dinesh Karthik hit the last ball of the game for six to give India a four-wicket win.