From Chahar's 6-for miracle to Chahal's final rescue act, these spells defined India's dominance

Cricket rivalries are often remembered for towering sixes and blistering centuries, but against Bangladesh in T20Is, India's bowlers have frequently stolen the limelight. The scoreboard tells its own story: India leads the head-to-head 16-1, a dominance built not only on batting firepower but also on bowling spells that throttled momentum and dictated outcomes.

As India prepares to face Bangladesh on 24 September in the Asia Cup Super-Four match at Dubai, let's turn the pages back to revisit five unforgettable spells that shaped this lopsided rivalry.

Deepak Chahar 6/7, Nagpur 2019

It was the series decider in Nagpur, November 2019. Bangladesh needed 175 to secure their first T20I series win over India. Enter Deepak Chahar. In a spell for the ages, he finished with 6/7 in just 3.2 overs, the best figures in men's T20I history.

Credit: ESPN

Bangladesh was cruising at 110/2 in the 13th over when Chahar returned. Within minutes, the innings collapsed like a house of cards - from 110/2 to 144 all out. He bowled 14 dot balls, conceded no boundaries, and sealed the game with a hat-trick. India triumphed by 30 runs, and Chahar etched his name into cricket’s record books.

Pragyan Ojha 4/21, Nottingham, 2009

The 2009 T20 World Cup match at Nottingham was expected to be a high-scoring encounter. India posted a total of 180/5, led by Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni. Bangladesh’s innings started positively, but Pragyan Ojha changed the course of the game.

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His figures of 4 for 21 in four overs dismantled the middle order. Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan were among his wickets, leaving Bangladesh stuttering at 112/6. From there, they managed to reach 155/8, securing a 25-run victory for India. Ojha’s economy rate of 5.25 in a game with plenty of runs emphasised the control he brought — turning a close contest into a comfortable win.

Sai Kishore 3/12, Hangzhou, 2023

In the 2023 Asian Games semi-final, the stakes were high - a spot in the gold medal match. Bangladesh, batting first, were trapped by R Sai Kishore. His figures: 4-0-12-3, including 17 dot balls.

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At one point, Bangladesh was 43/5, unable to break the stranglehold. They eventually limped to 96/9 in 20 overs. India’s chase was straightforward, finishing at 97/1 in 9.2 overs, winning by nine wickets with 64 balls remaining. Kishore’s spell was more about complete asphyxiation than wickets alone - an economy of just 3.00 in a knockout game.

Arshdeep Singh 3/14, Gwalior, 2024

The first T20I in Gwalior, 2024, saw Bangladesh fold for 127 all out. The destroyer-in-chief was Arshdeep Singh. His left-arm angle, late swing, and variations proved too much, producing figures of 3.5-0-14-3.

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He bowled 13 dot balls, conceded just one boundary, and closed out the innings effectively. India chased down the target in just 11.5 overs (132/3), winning by seven wickets with 49 balls remaining. Arshdeep’s economical spell not only suppressed Bangladesh’s scoring rate but also set the tone for a ruthless Indian chase.

Yuzvendra Chahal 3/18, Colombo, 2018

The 2018 Nidahas Trophy final is remembered for Dinesh Karthik’s last-ball six, but Yuzvendra Chahal quietly set the stage. Bowling in the crucial middle overs, he returned figures of 4-0-18-3, dismissing Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Sabbir Rahman.

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Bangladesh, aiming for around 180, were ultimately restricted to 166/8 in 20 overs. Every time they attempted to accelerate, Chahal struck. India chased it with 168/6 off the final ball, but without Chahal’s wickets at the vital moments, the chase could have been much more challenging.