After conquering Delhi, cyclone ‘Maha’ awaits

A wounded Tiger is a dangerous beast and India found out exactly that as they lost the first of the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh under smoggy conditions in Delhi.

The win was Bangladesh's first against India in T20I cricket after eight straight losses - a few of them in finals.

There were plenty of close encounters in those eight losses as Bangladesh lost in the Asia Cup final in 2016 and the Nidahas trophy final in 2018.

But the loss that would have hurt the most would be the World T20 loss against India in Bangalore where Bangladesh needed just two runs off three deliveries.

With the dependable Mushfiqur Rahim and 'the finisher' Mahmudullah Riyad at the crease a win was all but guaranteed, but they failed as both of them threw their wickets away. 

All eyes will now shift to Rajkot, the place for the second T20I against India as cyclone 'Maha' lies in wait.

There is a big possibility of the match being abandoned due to the cyclone and that would mean that Bangladesh will not lose the series, even if India win the third T20I. 

With that in mind, the series could well be one the Tigers look to make more memorable as an elusive T20 series win against the cricketing giants is a big possibility.

The way Mushfiq banished the ghosts from Bangalore 2016 and become the hero in the last match with the bat, will certainly give the rest of the team confidence to carry on from the good performance. 

It was an innings of redemption as with every boundary in the 18th over bowled by Khaleel Ahmed, Mushfiq grew in confidence. 

The previous over, he had been given a lifeline by Krunal Pandya, as he dropped a catch and the ball went past the boundary.

There is a saying that catches win matches, and in Pandya's case, that catch-drop cost India the game. 

With Shakib Al Hasan getting a one-year ban from cricket, the team needed a new leader to step up to the plate and take charge, and Mahmudullah did so with aplomb. 

It was nothing short of poetic justice that Mahmudullah hit the winning runs this time, after the Bangalore debacle. 

The way Mahmudullah also led his bowlers and made timely bowling changes after winning the toss was the real foundation behind the historic win.

The Indian batsmen simply weren't allowed to settle down on a Delhi pitch that was misbehaving with variable bounce and grip for the medium-fast bowlers.

Add to that India had rested their best batsman Virat Kohli, and it became obvious that they needed someone to guide the rest of the batsmen.

They will look to do so in the next match and the onus will have to fall on the shoulders of Rohit Sharma, who is the captain of the team for the series.

In contrast to Mahmudullah, not only was he poor with the bat, but his bowling changes were also predictable and didn't inspire his team to an expected victory; the pressure will certainly be on the hosts.

Eventually for Bangladesh, it will be a game where anything other than a win will start to bring back some good moments for the team after a tumultuous few months on and off the field. 

The fans back home have also been lifted after a win in the first game, and as long as the team plays to their potential, they will be satisfied.