The cauldron of Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong crackled with anticipation as India and Bangladesh, cricket’s fiercest neighbours, clashed in the opening encounter of the Under-19 World Cup 2024. The air, thick with humidity and the collective breath of thousands, awaited the first salvo in what promised to be a riveting tournament.
Bangladesh, buoyed by home advantage and a vocal crowd, opted to bowl first. Skipper Prantik Das put India’s openers – the talented Angkrish Raghuvanshi and the stoic Nishant Panwar – under immediate pressure. Das’s left-arm swing troubled Raghuvanshi, who edged a delivery just wide of the slips in the third over. Panwar, known for his calm demeanor, held firm at the other end, but the Bangladeshi bowlers kept the Indians on a leash.
The early tension manifested in a string of dot balls and the occasional misfield. Then, in the 12th over, disaster struck. A misunderstanding between the openers resulted in a mix-up, and Raghuvanshi was run out for a painstaking 5. The Indian dugout fell silent, the weight of expectation momentarily pressing down on the shoulders of the remaining batsmen.
However, Nishant Panwar, unfazed by the early wicket, rose to the occasion. He found an able partner in the elegant Raj Bawa, and the pair steadied the Indian innings. Bawa, blessed with exquisite timing, drove and flicked the Bangladeshi bowlers with effortless grace, while Panwar provided the much-needed anchor, judiciously rotating the strike and punishing the loose deliveries.
The partnership blossomed under the Chittagong sun, a slow waltz building towards a crescendo. Boundaries began to flow, Panwar hoisting a delightful straight drive over long-on, and Bawa finding the gaps in the field with his trademark wristy flicks. The Bangladeshi bowlers, sensing the momentum shift, tightened their lines, but the Indian duo was unfazed.
Just as India seemed poised to take complete control, tragedy struck. Panwar, nearing his half-century, was adjudged LBW to a straighter one from left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan. The Indian dressing room held its breath, but the replay confirmed the umpire’s decision. Panwar departed for a well-crafted 49, leaving behind a partnership of 87 that had rescued India from early jitters.
The dismissal brought another young gun, the hard-hitting Yashasvi Jaiswal, to the crease. Jaiswal, known for his fearless approach, wasted no time in announcing his arrival. He sent the first ball he faced soaring over long-off, a six that seemed to echo the collective sigh of relief from the Indian camp. Bawa, meanwhile, continued his assault, reaching his fifty with a crisp cut through point.
The next few overs were a blur of boundaries and cheers. Jaiswal’s six-hitting spree continued, while Bawa found the cover ropes with monotonous regularity. The Bangladeshi bowlers, deflated and demoralized, could only watch as the Indian innings transformed into a whirlwind of attacking strokeplay.
When Bawa finally holed out to long-on for a well-compiled 79, the scoreboard read 182-3 in the 39th over. Jaiswal continued the onslaught, reaching his fifty with a six over midwicket. He was ably supported by the late flourish of Raj Angad Patel and Harjot Singh Brar, who ensured India crossed the 300-run mark in the final over.
Chasing a mammoth 302, Bangladesh never quite recovered from the early blows inflicted by Indian pacer Ravi Kumar. The Bangladeshi openers looked nervous, hesitant against the swing and pace of the young quick. Kumar struck twice in his opening spell, removing the top order and leaving the hosts reeling at 32-3.
Despite a valiant fifty from Prantik Das, the Bangladeshi innings never truly got going. The Indian spinners, led by the wily Akash Singh, choked the life out of the chase, taking wickets at regular intervals. Bangladesh eventually succumbed for a paltry 150, handing India a convincing 151-run victory in a dominant opening performance.
As the final Bangladeshi batsman trudged back to the pavilion, the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium erupted in a wave of blue. The young Indian tigers had roared their way to a resounding victory, marking their intent in emphatic fashion. The road to the World Cup title was long and arduous, but on this balmy Chittagong afternoon, India had taken a giant leap forward, their batsmen blazing and their bowlers roaring, a message sent loud and clear to the rest of the cricketing world – the young tigers were ready to hunt.
