Magazine : 
ICC Men's T20 WC'24: Pant, Pandya Shine as India Bests Bangla in Warm-Up
India, the champions of 2007, showcased their readiness for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2004 with a commanding 60-run victory over Bangladesh in a lone warm-up encounter at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York. Opting to bat initially, India capitalized on a scorching half-century from wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant (53), supported by rapid-fire innings from Suryakumar Yadav (31 off 18 balls) and an unbeaten 40 off 23 balls by Hardik Pandya, amassing a formidable 182/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Pant, who made a significant comeback after a 15-month hiatus due to a near-fatal car accident in December 2022, showcased his prowess by smashing four boundaries and an equal number of sixes, emerging as India's top scorer before retiring out. SKY unleashed four boundaries in his brisk 18-ball 31, while Pandya hammered two fours and four sixes during his unbeaten 40 off 23 deliveries.
Defending the score, India restricted Bangladesh to 122/9 in 20 overs with pacer Arshdeep Singh claiming 2-12 in three overs and 2-13 by Shivam Dube. Skipper Rohit Sharma used eight bowlers with Jasprit Bumrah (1-12), Mohammed Siraj (1-17) and Hardik Pandya (1-30), and Axar Patel (1-10) being the other wicket-takers.
Bangladesh saw former captain Mahmudullah contributing with a solid 40 runs off 29 balls (including 4 boundaries and 1 six), while another former skipper, Shakib Al Hasan, managed 28 runs off 34 deliveries. The match presented a blend of positives and uncertainties for the Indian side. Notably, former captain Virat Kohli wasn't part of the team as he had joined the squad just a day prior.
Instead of using Yashasvi Jaiswal, the Indian team management used Sanju Samson was sent in as Rohit Sharma's opening partner but could manage only one run. Rohit scored 12 off 19 balls, hitting two boundaries and one six. Indians scored 55/1 in the Power-play. Pant was promoted up the batting order and entrusted with the wicketkeeping duties, where he excelled with the bat before retiring out at 53. He stitched together a valuable 48-run partnership for the second wicket alongside Rohit and contributed another 44 runs for the third wicket with Shivam Dube (14).
Pant and Dube displayed impressive form, as did Hardik Pandya, who faced scrutiny following a mixed performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Pandya, batting lower down the order, showcased his skills with an excellent unbeaten 40, while also contributing with the ball by taking a wicket, albeit conceding 30 runs in three overs.
