Bangladesh threw away a golden opportunity to beat India in a Twenty20 International but they still managed to lose in dramatic circumstances to crash out of the 2016 World T20.
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In cricket, when a team needs two runs off three balls with three wickets remaining, you would back them to win. However, during the 2016 World T20 encounter between India and Bangladesh at the M Chinnaswamy stadium, a freakish moment took place. Bangladesh needed two runs off three balls with three wickets remaining. Yet, they lost! In a spectacular implosion, Bangladesh hit full tosses to the fielders, was undone by a moment of Usain Bolt madness by MS Dhoni. On 23rd March 2016, the thousands at Bangalore witnessed a match that defied beliefs.
India scored 146/7 in their 20 overs. The duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets apiece as Bangladesh stumbled. Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah steadied the ship and Bangladesh needed 11 runs off the final over which would be bowled by Hardik Pandya.
After a single first ball, Rahim hit two fours and got the equation down to two off three balls. After lapping the third ball for a four, Rahim let out a premature victory roar. However, there is a saying in cricket that ‘never celebrate until the final ball is bowled.’ Rahim miscued the pull shot to deep midwicket, Mahmudullah hit a full toss in the same place where Jadeja took the catch. Two runs were needed off one ball.
Pandya bowled a short ball outside off and Shuvagata Hom missed the pull shot. Mustafizur Rahman tried to pinch a bye but MS Dhoni ran like Usain Bolt and broke the stumps. Mustafizur was inches short. India stayed alive in the competition with a one-run win. The iconic photo of the Bangladesh Superfan Shoaib Ali Bukhari crying inconsolably with the flag next to him was sad.
India would beat Australia in Mohali thanks to a tour-de-force by Virat Kohli. But, they would lose in the semi-final to a determined West Indies.
This would not be the first time Bangladesh would suffer heartbreak. In the 2018 Nidahas Trophy final, Bangladesh’s quest for a maiden title and triumph against India was crushed in Colombo when Dinesh Karthik hit a last ball six.
However, March 23 reinforced the notion that premature celebrations can be fatal. It is never over until the fat lady sings.
