IND VS BAN MATCH 17

Right then, that is it from this game and the heat is on for the top place in the points table with India and New Zealand, the two unbeaten teams facing each other in their next encounter. For now, though, the caravan moves to Bengaluru for Match number 18 where a wounded Pakistan team will go up against a resurgent Australia and both sides will be itching for a win. That encounter will take place on Friday, the 20th of October and will begin at 2 pm IST (8.30 am GMT) but as usual, you can join us early for the build-up. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Rohit Sharma, the captain of India says that it was a good win. Adds that they didn't start that well with the ball but the guys pulled it back in the middle phase and toward the end as well. Tells that their fielding has been brilliant in the last three games and here too and everyone is putting their best effort into the matches. Praises Ravindra Jadeja for his excellent spell and that amazing catch but says a hundred is a hundred (On Kohli stealing the Man of the Match from Jadeja). Credits the bowlers for being smart and hitting the right lengths. Says that they are doing well as a group and a medal for all the performance after every game motivates a lot as well. Mentions that Hardik Pandya pulled up a bit but it is not anything major and they will need to assess it more when he pulls up in training the next day. Acknowledges the crowd and says that they are coming in big numbers and hopes that it gets even bigger and louder as they move on.

Bangladesh's skipper, Najmul Hossain Shanto is down for a chat. Shanto says India are always a good side and are capable of doing good things. Adds that they have played three of the best teams in the tournament but they could have done better and their best is yet to come. Tells that Tanzid Hasan batted really well and the fast bowlers were good too but if he or Litton Das stayed there a bit longer and they picked up a couple of more wickets, things could have been different. Mentions that Shakib Al Hasan is recovering well and should be fit for the next game.

Virat Kohli is the Player of the Match for his stellar ton. Kohli starts by apologizing in a fun way for stealing the award from Ravindra Jadeja and says that he wanted to make a big contribution as he has got a few fifties in World Cup games but not enough centuries. Adds that even if you dream about the start he had, you go back to sleep because it was unbelievable and reckons that the pitch was really good and the ball came onto the bat nicely. Says that the team is doing well and the atmosphere of the team is pretty relaxed but also adds that it is a long tournament. Says that he and Ravichandran Ashwin are the only two players in the team to have won the World Cup and to play in front of such a crowd is a pleasure.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, the stand-in captain for Bangladesh, Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and wanted to put runs on the board. It was a brisk start by the Bangladeshi openers as Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das looked in good flow and added 93 runs for the first wicket. The frontline pacers for India didn't have much of an impact with the new ball but Kuldeep Yadav was able to break the stand and provide the opening. In the middle phase, all the other bowlers managed to pick up timely wickets after both openers were dismissed having surpassed the 50-run mark. Mushfiqur Rahim seemed to the anchoring the innings for Bangladesh but he too fell and it was then a big effort from Mahmudullah to take them over the 250-run mark. Ravindra Jadeja was the standout bowler for India with others chipping in as well. As far as the chase is concerned, it was yet another fast and furious effort from India to get their fourth win of the campaign.

Bangladesh have once again not been able to live up to the big stage as after a very solid start with the bat, they could muster up only 256 runs. This effort was then made to look even smaller as the frontline bowlers gave away runs in the first 10 overs. They did manage to pick up wickets in the middle phase and Mehidy Hasan did more than a fine job of being the lead spinner in the absence of Shakib Al Hasan but it just wasn't enough. Hasan Mahmud attacked well and even though he was expensive, he did pick up the wicket of the Indian skipper. Shoriful Islam was expensive too and Mustafizur Rahman didn't get much of a role with the ball. They need to pull up their socks or their campaign could end off in a hurry.

A victory that was yet again set up by the bowlers who kept Bangladesh to a below-par total. Skipper Rohit Sharma once again came out with aggressive intent and put the opposition bowlers under pressure right from the word go. Shubman Gill started off a bit slow but Rohit was going guns blazing before getting out on 48. Virat Kohli got off to a quick start as well thanks to some sloppy bowling and Gill too started showing his class and got to his maiden World Cup fifty. Both Gill and Iyer then got out playing big shots but India were firmly in front by then. KL Rahul joined Kohli in the middle and the two made sure there was no blemish and the former even gave Virat full support when the talismanic batter made it a mission to end the match with a hundred to his name and that's exactly what he managed to do, even surpassing 26,000 international runs across formats in the process.

INDIA GO FOUR OUT OF FOUR! A bit of an enthralling end to a game that was long over and eventually, Virat Kohli gets to that three-figure mark. All in all, yet another dominating performance from the hosts and they join New Zealand as the only two teams to have a perfect record thus far in the tournament.

SIX! Yes, he can! Virat Kohli finishes things off in style! He gets to his 48th ODI HUNDRED as well as he hits the winning runs. Nasum Ahmed tosses it up around middle, Virat Kohli shimmies down the track and makes it a full toss to whip it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a bigger and the crowd goes wild at Pune. INDIA WIN BY 7 WICKETS!

Quicker one and on middle, Virat Kohli uses his feet and knocks it towards long on for no run. Can Kohli hit a boundary here?

Nasum Ahmed fires this one short and down the leg side, Virat Kohli initially backs away but then moves away to leave it alone. He is not happy with the bowler as he thinks it is a wide but the umpire says it is not.

Overpitched and on middle, Virat Kohli eases it towards long on and retains the strike. India needs 2 to win but Virat Kohli is on 97 and needs to hit a boundary here.

A low full toss, on middle, Virat Kohli heaves it towards deep mid-wicket and refuses the run once more.

Good running again! This is full and on middle, Virat Kohli nudges it in front of deep mid-wicket for a couple of more runs.

Almost chopped on! This is a back-of-the-hand slower one, on a length and on off, Virat Kohli looks to slog it away but gets an inside edge just past the stumps. The crowd takes a sigh of relief along with Kohli himself.

This is pitched up and on middle, Virat Kohli tucks it with soft hands towards the square leg region and comes back for the second run in a flash. Brilliant running! He moves to 94 now.