Rohit Sharma’s struggles continue at the top

Rohit Sharma, who had a below-par T20 World Cup in 2022, did not have a greatest start to this edition either. He made 23 in 19 balls before falling to a lofted drive against Mahmudullah. The India skipper has played only three T20Is between the two World Cups and his return to the set-up came as a surprise after it seemingly appeared that he and Virat Kohli had moved on from the format after the competition in Australia.

Unlike Kohli, however, Rohit did not have an IPL to remember this season. He made 417 runs at an average of 32.08, going seven successive games without crossing 40, a period where he also struck at under a run a ball five times. Rohit, who has taken part in every edition of the T20 World Cup, has an underwhelming record in the competition, making 963 runs at an average of 34.39 and a strike rate of 128. In the last event, in 2022, he averaged 19.33 at the top of the order, striking at only 106; his painstaking 28-ball 27 in the semi-final sending them on the back foot.

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Rishabh Pant edges ahead in the wicketkeeper’s race

India picked two wicketkeeping options in their squad for the World Cup – Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant – and pushed them up the order against Bangladesh as they looked to zero in on their first-choice gloveman. Samson opened alongside Rohit, while Pant, playing in India colours for the first time since his horrific accident in December 2022, came in at No.3.

Both players had impressed in the recent IPL but have not been able to leave a mark in T20Is in the past and the warm-up was an opportunity to get an upper hand in the playing XI for India’s opening game against Ireland. Samson was unable to make the most of his chance and was dismissed for one in six balls, but Pant shone with a blistering 32-ball 53, including smashing Shakib Al Hasan for three sixes in an over.

The trademark one-handed swipes and reverse sweeps were on full display as he took charge against spin, helping India recover from the early loss of Samson’s wicket. It might have been enough to earn him a spot in the opening clash later this week.

Has Hardik Pandya put behind his IPL form?

Hardik Pandya had a season to forget in the IPL, with the off-field decision of switching to Mumbai Indians seemingly hampering his productivity on the field. He had a disastrous campaign where Mumbai finished last on the table. He averaged 18 with the bat without a fifty in 14 matches; he did pick up 11 wickets, but went for 10.75 an over.

Without the additional pressure of leading a team, Pandya seemed to be back to his free-flowing self against Bangladesh, making an unbeaten 40 in 23 balls with four sixes. Much has been spoken about his waning batting form in T20Is and his diminishing ability to play as a finisher, but he put that to rest while batting at No.6 on Saturday. He was the most expensive bowler for India, but grabbed the wicket of opener Tanzid Hasan to give the side a crucial breakthrough.

Arshdeep Singh makes life miserable with the new ball

While Jasprit Bumrah was expected to be the main wrecker-in-chief with the new ball, it was Arshdeep Singh who stole the show in New York. Having set Bangladesh a steep total of 183, India picked up three wickets in the first four overs, two of which were scalped by Arshdeep. He first dismissed Soumya Sarkar with an outswinger before bowling Litton Das with a nip-backer that came in from a length.

Arshdeep picked up 19 wickets in the recent IPL but was unable to create much of an impact with the new ball, picking up only seven wickets in 14 innings at an average of 34. With Mohammed Siraj being inconsistent as well, worries remained over the effectiveness of the fast bowlers but Arshdeep’s performance against Bangladesh should uplift India.

First reflections of the pitch - Spongy and slow

All eyes were on the drop-in wicket in New York, imported from Adelaide in Australia. The tracks were expected to have extra pace and bounce, but if the warm-up game between India and Bangladesh is any reflection, run-scoring will not be the easiest during the T20 World Cup, at least on this ground.

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The wicket was sluggish while batting and though there was initial movement for the bowlers, it settled down as the innings progressed, bringing spinners into the game.

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