5 dramatic moments from India vs Bangladesh Asia Cup T20

The opening encounter of the Asia Cup 2016 was played out on Wednesday between hosts Bangladesh and India in Dhaka, concluding in a 45-run victory for the visiting side. Despite coming out on top comfortably at the end, India had several spots of bother in the course of the 40 overs.Also read: ICC T20 World Cup 2016 ScheduleWhat would have put the visiting side on the back foot straightaway was the amount of grass cover on the pitch, as Bangladesh steamed in with a four-man pace attack. Recent encounters between these two neighbouring countries have been fraught with tension and controversy, and so another high-pressure match was on the cards from the beginning.Tempers were flared, caps were thrown, teammates grew angry with each other – the tension that the 22 players were under was evident to all. There were a few emotional outbursts, a few outlets of tension which are not usually witnessed on a cricket field.Five moments in Wednesday’s match which showed just how much pressure the players were under:

#1 Shakib\'s dropped catch transforms Rohit

There were two halves to Rohit Sharma’s match winning knock of 83 against Bangladesh – his innings neatly divided by a dropped catch in the 11th over. He had managed to score 21 off 27 balls, and was even failing to make contact between bat and ball.

Off the third ball of Taskin Ahmed’s over, Rohit drove the ball hard to backward point, where Shakib al Hasan could not hold on to the catch. The ball was not very far from the fielder, but to be fair to him, it reached him at an awkward height and it had been hit with considerable velocity.

Taskin managed a smile at the chance that had gone begging, but not many would have imagined that Shakib’s dropped catch would be so costly. Rohit became a batsman transformed after this let-off and launched on an aggressive assault immediately.

He hit two fours and a six in the rest of the over, and scored 62 runs off the remaining 28 balls that he faced – taking India well past their initial target of around 150.

#2 Nehra throws cap to the ground

Ashish Nehra ensured that India could have a perfect start to their bowling innings, pumping in venomous deliveries with a smile on his face. The smile was wiped away soon, however, as his fielders let him down, or so he thought.

In his first over, Nehra bowled five dot balls but conceded three runs of his final ball. He was not happy with the fielding of Jasprit Bumrah, who he thought could have kept it down to a double.

In his second over, however, Nehra found reason to go berserk – throwing his cap onto the ground in frustration after the umpire had handed it back to him after its completion. Off the fifth ball, Ravichandran Ashwin was too slow in the outfield, letting the batsmen run three again.

Off the final ball of the over, it was Hardik Pandya at mid-on who misjudged the flight of the ball and failed to take a catch. Instead of running back, he stood his ground for a while, and had to watch as the ball sailed over his head to land safely.

Nehra lost his temper, but clarified after the match, “I was angry with myself, not Hardik. I had wanted to bowl that bouncer a little higher.”

#3 Yuvraj told off for poor effort in field

The combination of youth and experience in the current Indian team is unprecedented – the creaking joints and wisdom of someone like Ashish Nehra is a striking contrast alongside Hardik Pandya’s exuberant leaps in the air and his confessed way of living.

In the 9th over of the Bangladesh innings, 34-year-old Yuvraj Singh got remonstrated with by Virat Kohli for not being quick enough to take a catch. Once one of the fastest in the world, it is true that the likes of Kohli have zoomed past Yuvraj now in terms of athletic ability.

The first ball off the 9th over, bowled by Pandya, ballooned off Imrul Kayes’ bat and landed to the left of mid-on. Yuvraj, despite setting out initially to take a catch, gave up hope and settled for a stop.

Kohli indicated to the senior pro that he could have run a little faster to catch the ball, and Yuvraj bowed his head and walked back to his fielding position. It was ironical that one of India’s best ever fielders was being asked to put more effort in, but it is true that Yuvraj has not done enough yet to prove his worth to the India XI, ahead of Ajinkya Rahane.

#4 Shakib gives Sabbir a mouthful

Bangladesh were in with more than a chance till the halfway stage of their innings, when the game was changed in a single moment of misunderstanding between Sabbir Rahman and Shakib al Hasan.

Ravindra Jadeja had been introduced into the attack in the 13th over, and the hosts were trying to enter into the final phase of their chase. They received a jolt, and Shere Bangla National Stadium fell silent, as Shakib slipped in the middle of the pitch and was run out.

Shakib had worked away the ball towards mid-wicket, and started for a run. His partner, Sabbir, had taken a couple of steps forward, but had then said ‘No’. Shakib, marooned in the middle of the pitch, tried to turn back, but lost his footing and slipped. Dhoni collected the throw from Rohit calmly and ran him out.

Shakib was furious with his partner for the miscommunication, and unleashed a volley of words at him. However, it was up for debate whether there had been a run in it at all.

#5 Dhoni pouches the match

Sabbir Rahman had the potential to be India’s Rohit Sharma on Wednesday, but all such hopes were put to an end in the 15th over. The stadium, which had let known its uproarious approval of the day’s events for the whole match, had a pin-drop silence as MS Dhoni called for the catch and pouched it comfortably – putting the game firmly in India’s grasp.

Sabbir, batting on 44, had been the lone warrior from his side, but was seen to be struggling with his hamstring in the latter part of his stay. As desperation loomed, he went for a pull off Hardik Pandya. His bottom hand came off the bat handle though, as the top edge saw the ball rise in the night sky and fall back into the grateful gloves of Dhoni.

Pandya had also run towards the catch, but it was Dhoni who gave a loud and clear call, settled under the ball, and caught it. After this over, Bangladesh needed 82 to win off the last 5 overs – an improbable task. The match was in the bag, and the Asia Cup campaign off to a successful start.