Vivek Mishra works as an Assistant Editor with Eastern Eye and has over 13 years of experience in journalism. His areas of interest include politics, international affairs, current events, and sports. With a background in newsroom operations and editorial planning, he has reported and edited stories on major national and global developments.
Leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav took three crucial wickets while Hardik Pandya hit an unbeaten half-century as India moved closer to the T20 World Cup semi-finals with a 50-run win over Bangladesh on Saturday.
Chasing a target of 197, Bangladesh lost three of their top five batsmen to Kuldeep, who dismissed Tanzid Hasan (29), Towhid Hridoy (four), and Shakib Al Hasan (11). Kuldeep finished with 3-19 from his four overs.
India now have two wins from two Super Eight games.
Pandya, who had scored 50 when India batted, initiated the collapse by taking the first Bangladesh wicket, getting opener Liton Das (13) to sky a chance.
Once skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto fell to Jasprit Bumrah for 40 off 32 balls, Bangladesh's hopes faded.
Bumrah also ended Rishad Hossain's 24-run cameo, finishing with 2-13 from four overs as Bangladesh ended their 20 overs on 146-8.
"Our top score was 50, and we still got 196," said India captain Rohit Sharma. "In T20, you don't need fifties and hundreds; what matters is the pressure you put on the bowlers. That's how we want to play."
He added, "Hardik batting well, the way he did today, puts us in a very good place. We all know what he can do, and today was the perfect example of that. He's a very important player for us, with bat and ball."
Batting first, 2007 champions India saw five of their top six batsmen reach double figures.
Allrounder Pandya top-scored with an unbeaten 50 off 27 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes.
India raced to 71-1 in seven overs, with Sharma making 23 and Virat Kohli hitting a tournament-best 37 off 28 balls with one four and three sixes.
The only setback was Suryakumar Yadav, who scored just six after making back-to-back fifties in his last two innings. His runs came off the first ball he faced before falling to Tanzim Hasan Sakib, who had also dismissed Kohli in the same over.
Rishabh Pant hit 36 off 24 balls, while Shivam Dube made 34, with 18 runs coming from three sixes.
"I think we had a lot of batting options today, but we didn't show the intent we needed," admitted Shanto.
India beat Afghanistan by 47 runs in their Super Eight opener in Bridgetown, while Bangladesh lost to Australia by 28 runs in a rain-hit match in Antigua.
India have now won all five T20 World Cup matches against Bangladesh, extending their overall head-to-head record to 13-1.
Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami highlighted inclusiveness and sustainability.
Leicester hosted scaled-back celebrations without fireworks after a safety review.
Cities across England marked the festival with community events.
THE ROYAL Family and UK prime minister Keir Starmer shared Diwali greetings on Monday, as the High Commission of India in London highlighted inclusiveness and sustainability as key messages of the Festival of Lights.
“Wishing a very happy Diwali to everyone celebrating the Festival of Lights in the UK and around the world,” reads a message from Buckingham Palace, shared across all its social media platforms.
Starmer also took to social media to wish “Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across Britain a joyful and peaceful Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas”. The prime minister, who attended the Gaza peace summit in Egypt during the Diwali festivities at 10 Downing Street last week, reflected on his visit to Mumbai earlier this month in his post.
“Earlier this month, I lit a diya in Mumbai as a symbol of devotion, joy, and renewed bonds. As we celebrate this Festival of Lights, let’s keep building a Britain where everyone can look ahead with hope,” he said.
Opposition Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch described the festival as a “celebration of light over darkness, hope over despair, and the power of family, community and faith”.
“Wishing a very Happy Diwali to all those celebrating the festival of lights in the UK, India, and around the world. May this Diwali bring blessings, peace, and prosperity to everyone,” said Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary.
Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, in a video message, called Deepavali one of the central elements of India’s festive calendar.
“It is celebrated across all communities as an opportunity to bring together families and friends and celebrate the joys of the changing season, and the start of the cool season,” said Doraiswami.
“It is one of our most beloved festivals, not least because of the lights and traditional diyas that are lit up, but also for the opportunity to spend time with friends and family. Diwali these days is seen as an opportunity for an inclusive festival, a sustainable festival,” he said.
“Sustainability not just purely in the environmental sense with the use of renewables in our lights and displays, but also in terms of ensuring that you make it sustainable by bringing together all communities amongst whom you live,” he added.
“That is particularly applicable here in the United Kingdom as we celebrate the start of what is a longer festive season that continues right through to the end of the year,” he said.
Many of the annual Diwali festivities in the UK, including the Mayor of London’s Diwali on the Square, took place earlier this month.
In Leicester, known for its large-scale Diwali celebrations, this year’s event was scaled back with no fireworks display following a local council safety audit. The city’s Diwali Day celebrations were centred around a Wheel of Light — a 110-foot-high Ferris wheel on the Golden Mile at Belgrave Road — which was closed to traffic and lit up with thousands of colourful lights.
“We know that this year’s celebrations will feel different, but our priority must be the safety of the public,” said Councillor Vi Dempster, Leicester’s assistant city mayor for culture.
“We are absolutely determined that Diwali continues to be part of the city’s festive calendar. We will be working with partners and the local community to explore options for how the city builds on its proud tradition of bringing our communities together to celebrate the Festival of Light,” she said.
Meanwhile, Basingstoke and Reading in southern England hosted outdoor Diwali celebrations organised by Kala the Arts over the weekend, attracting hundreds of people.
The events featured theatrical processions with illuminated puppets, dhol music, classical dance performances, and lantern installations as part of the free-to-attend festival, now in its fifth year.
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