India’s performance in the first T20I against Bangladesh on October 6 in Gwalior was nothing short of dominant. The match showcased the depth of India’s talent pool, a point that former Pakistan batter Basit Ali highlighted. With senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja having retired from the shortest format, India has turned to its IPL stars to fill the gaps, providing opportunities for younger talent to step up on the international stage.

Ali, in a candid discussion, expressed his admiration for India’s strength and how they have transformed the landscape of cricket. “India have changed cricket with their dominance. Bangladesh is just an appetizer for them. This is an IPL eleven, not even India’s full-strength team,” Ali remarked, referencing the fact that India, even without key players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer, cruised to an emphatic victory.

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Basit Ali marvelled at the ease with which India wrapped up the game, especially with Hardik Pandya finishing the chase in style with a six. Suryakumar Yadav, captaining the side, chose to bowl first after winning the toss, a decision that paid off immediately. The bowling attack, led by Arshdeep Singh (3/14) and Varun Chakravarthy (3/31), kept Bangladesh to a modest 127.

Making his debut, 22-year-old Mayank Yadav impressed with his raw pace, bowling a maiden over and picking up a wicket, showing immense potential. India’s reply was nothing short of ruthless. Hardik Pandya’s explosive 39* off just 16 balls, along with contributions from Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav, saw India chase down the target in just 11.5 overs, winning by seven wickets.

Basit Ali was particularly impressed by Mayank Yadav, praising the youngster for his blistering pace and composure. “Mayank’s debut was a dream. He bowled at 149.8 kmph, and though recovering from injury, he sent a scare through the opposition.”

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Basit Ali also drew attention to Bangladesh’s contrasting performances, comparing their struggles in the T20I to their recent Test series whitewash against Pakistan. His concluding remarks underscored the formidable nature of India’s current squad, highlighting their depth and versatility.