"India can also play any other kids who are left" - Basit Ali on Men in Blue's domination in IND vs BAN 2024 1st T20I

Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali opined that Bangladesh won't be able to give India a tough fight in the ongoing three-match T20I series. His comments came after the Men in Blue's seven-wicket victory in the opening encounter at the New Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior on Sunday, October 6.

India won the toss and chose to field first. Bangladesh's batting let them down in the contest as they were bowled out for just 127. Mehidy Hasan Miraz's 35-run knock helped the visitors post a respectable total.

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the Indian bowlers, registering figures of 3.5-0-14-3. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy also finished with an impressive three-wicket haul.

The hosts chased down the target in just 11.5 overs, with Hardik Pandya being the top scorer, remaining unbeaten on 39. Following India's comprehensive victory, Basit suggested that Bangladesh are no match for Suryakumar Yadav and company.

Reckoning that India could even afford to play new kids in the third T20I if they seal the series by winning the upcoming second fixture, Basit said in a video shared on his YouTube channel (from 6:30):

"The truth is that there Bangladesh are no match for India. In fact, after winning the second match, India can also play any other kids who are left."

It is worth mentioning that India have rested the likes of Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, and Shumban Gill for the Bangladesh T20I series. They handed T20I debuts to all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and speedster Mayank Yadav in the series opener.

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"Is this the same Bangladesh that whitewashed Pakistan?" - Basit Ali

Basit Ali added India have completely dominated the same Bangladesh team that recently whitewashed Pakistan 2-0 in a Test series. He noted that while Bangladesh had a dream run in Pakistan, they have gone down without a fight in their India tour.

Opining that an Indian Premier League (IPL) XI was enough to trump Bangladesh in the T20I series opener, Basit said in the same interaction (from 0:56):

"Is this the same Bangladesh that whitewashed Pakistan? You saw what happened in the Test series. They lost the first Test and then lost the second within two days. Even the rain couldn't save them. And then they were outclassed in the first T20I as well. This is not the Indian team, it's IPL XI. The likes of Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Axar Patel and Rishabh Pant were not there. Even Shreyas Iyer, who isn't a regular in India's T20I team isn't part of this squad. Ravi Bishnoi also didn't play this match."

India and Bangladesh will now square off in the second T20I of their three-match series. The game will be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Wednesday, October 9.