India held their nerve to defeat Bangladesh by 12 runs in a closely fought Group A clash of the T10 World Cup 2026 at the Manuka Oval, delivering a match packed with momentum swings, sharp bowling, and individual brilliance.
Batting first, India posted 111 all out in 10 overs, a total built on aggressive cameos rather than a single dominant innings. Abhishek Sharma set the tone early with a brisk 28 off 14 balls, while Virat Kohli maintained the pressure with a fluent 20 off 10. The innings gained late impetus through Hardik Pandya’s explosive 28 off 11 balls and Shivam Dube’s handy 16 off 7, but Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling attack ensured regular breakthroughs. Taskin Ahmed and Soumya Sarkar led the resistance, each picking up three wickets, as India were bowled out on the final ball of the innings.
In reply, Bangladesh began positively, anchored by Munim Shahriar’s determined 48 off 30 balls, which kept the chase alive deep into the innings. Litton Das provided solid support with 22 off 16, but once the required rate climbed, India’s bowlers tightened the screws. Ravichandran Ashwin turned the match decisively in India’s favor, delivering a masterclass in control and variation to claim 3 wickets for 20 runs in 2 overs. His timely strikes dismantled Bangladesh’s middle order and halted their momentum.
Despite a late push, Bangladesh finished on 99 for 5 in 10 overs, falling 12 runs short of the target. Ashwin’s all-round impact earned him the Player of the Match award, underlining India’s ability to defend modest totals through smart bowling and composure under pressure.
The victory strengthened India’s position in Group A, while Bangladesh were left to reflect on missed opportunities in a match that remained in balance until the final overs.