"India Thought It Was Practice Match": Mushfiqur Rahim Mocks India For 2007 World Cup Defeat
Published - 28 May 2020, 03:33 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:29 AM
Bangladesh are no more underdogs and have emerged as a competitive unit in international cricket. There recent improvement has proved that they cannot be taken as granted. For India, the 2007 World Cup group stage match against Bangladesh, was a testament of just the same. It was also their worst-ever performance in the quadrennial showpiece.
In the group stage match, opting to bat, a full-strength India side managed to paltry 191 runs in 50 overs with Sourav Ganguly (66) top-scoring for the side. Experience fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza caused the major trouble for Indian batsmen picking up four wickets. In response, Bangladesh chased down the total with nine balls to spare.
Tamim Iqbal got off Bangladesh to a good start before Mushfiqur Rahim played a cautious knock, staying unbeaten on 56 runs off 185 balls. He was well helped by all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan who played a perfect second fiddle in the match.
Mushfiqur Rahim: India’s first match and they thought they would get some batting practice before their big games
Heavyweights India were coupled up against the likes of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bermuda in the group B of 2007 World Cup. Recalling the match, Mushfiqur Rahim said, India might have thought that they would get some practice before the big match. He also heaped praise on Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan for their contribution.
“During the innings break against India, I learned I was going bat at No. 3. I had very little time to think about it. It was India’s first match and they thought they would get some batting practice before their big games. It was a tacky wicket. Tamim [Iqbal] gave us a good start while I was settling in. Then I had a great partnership with Shakib [Al Hasan]. It made me quite relaxed to bat with two of my U-19 team-mates on the biggest stage,” Mushfiqur told ESPNCricinfo.
India finished third in the group stage with only two points from three matches and were subsequently knocked out of the tournament.
