India break record for highest-ever T20I total against Bangladesh

India have broken the record for the highest-ever T20I total by a full member nation, plundering 297/6 and winning by 133 runs against Bangladesh on Saturday in Hyderabad.

Cricket betting sites had India as favourites to win the third T20I and complete a series whitewash, but the nature in which they did so was still unexpected.

Sanju Samson was the man of the hour, combining with captain Suryakumar Yadav for a 173-run partnership off just 11.2 overs.

Samson would go on to make 111 runs from 47 balls, while Yadav bagged 75 from 35 himself.

Middle order batsmen Riyan Parag and Hardik Pandya got in on the action too with short, sharp cameos of 34 from 13 and 47 from 18 respectively, helping India to a record-breaking total.

Of India’s runs, 232 were scored as boundaries, with 47 struck across their 20 overs, and all but two overs going at a rate of 10 or more runs per over.

“I think we’ve achieved a lot as a team,” said Yadav after the match, which was India’s 10th in a row in the format.

“[We] had said wanted to have selfless cricketers and want to be a selfless team, enjoy each others’ performances.

“That camaraderie is coming off.

“[Gautam Gambhir] said the same thing before the series that no one is bigger than the team, no matter you are on 49 or 99, you have to hit the ball out of the field.

“That’s what Sanju did today.”

In response to India’s gargantuan total, Bangladesh were always going to struggle.

Parvez Hossain Emon did not help matters when he lost his wicket first ball, with another two Bangladeshi batsmen returning to the shed before the end of the powerplay.

Towhid Hridoy top scored with 63 runs from 42 balls, and had good company from Litton Das (42 from 25) for a period, but it was nowhere near enough as the visitors stuttered to 164/7 from their 20 overs.

“We didn’t play our best cricket,” reflected Bangladesh’s captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.

“We didn’t execute our plans as a batting unit.

“Couple of overs we bowled well in some matches but today we didn’t bowl well.

“We need to believe in ourselves that we can compete against any team.

“We need to change our home wickets and players need to take responsibilities.”

Next up, India host New Zealand in a series that gets underway this Wednesday in Bangalore with the first of three Tests.

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