Deepak Chahar recorded the best ever figures in the history of Twenty20 International cricket and also became the first-ever Indian men to take a T20I hat-trick during the 3rd and final T20I game against Bangladesh at Nagpur. Chahar’s exploits in the deciding encounter of the three-match T20I series guided India not only to a 30-run victory in the 3rd and final T20I match but also a 2-1 series win over Bangladesh after going a match down. Chahar’s figures at the end of game read 3.2—0—7—6 (3.2 overs, zero maidens, seven runs and six wickets), which is the best figures ever recorded in Twenty20 international cricket bettering Ajantha Mendis’ record of 4—2—8—6 (four overs, two maidens, eight runs and six wickets). India vs Bangladesh Highlights of 3rd T20I Match.

Chahar, 27, dismissed Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Aminul Islam, Shafiul Islam and Mustafizur Rahman to reach his milestone. His achievement of becoming the first Indian men’s cricketer ever to record a T20I cricket was completed in the final over of the match when he removed Mustafizur and Aminul off successive deliveries in the final over of the game having already dismissed Shafiul Islam in the final ball of the 18th over.  IND vs BAN 3rd T20I 2019 Stat Highlights: Deepak Chahar Registers Best Figures in T20Is As India Beat Bangladesh by 30 Runs.

Deepak Chahar Takes India's First-Ever Hat-Trick

While Mustafizur’s dismissal – caught at covers by Shreyas Iyer – completed Chahar’s maiden five-wicket haul in T20I cricket, Aminul’s wicket not just helped him take the hat-trick but also achieve the best ever figures in T20I cricket. He bettered the record set by Sri Lanka spinner Mendis against Zimbabwe in 2012.

The fast bowler’s best figures – until his feats in his game – was 3/4 (three overs, four runs and three wickets), which itself was among the best figures in T20I cricket. But in a crucial decider against Bangladesh and with the T20I series on the line, Chahar stepped up to deliver the best ever individual bowling performance in T20I cricket. He also joined Ekta Bisht in becoming only the second Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in Twenty20 Internationals. Bisht had achieved the feat against Sri Lanka in 2012 with her exploits helping India qualify for the 2014 T20I World Cup.

Deepak Chahar Records Best Ever Figures

Chahar started well by dismissing Bangladeshi opening batsman Liton Das in his very first over. Das, who was looking dangerous, chased half-length delivery outside the off-stump in the third over of the visitors’ innings only to find Washington Sundar at deep square leg. Soumya Sarkar was out in the very next delivery trying to lift a length ball over mid-wicket, giving Chahar his first opportunity to take a hat-trick But Mithun fended the hat-trick ball. Chahar’s figures after his first over in the game read – one over, one run and two wickets.

But that was only over Chahar bowled in the opening 10 and then with the game slowly slipping away from India’s grasp, Rohit turned to him in the 12th over. Chahar delivered again by removing Mithun in the final delivery of his second over.

He returned in the 18th over and removed Shafiul Islam again in the final delivery of the over before having Mushtafizur caught by Shreyas Iyer at covers to once again find himself one wicket away from becoming India’s first-ever men to complete a hat-trick. This time Chahar didn’t miss and fired a pinpoint Yorker leaving Aminul Islam with no chance to ground his bat. The hat-trick was completed, Chahar had rewritten history.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 10, 2019 11:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).