The rivalry between India and Bangladesh in cricket has transformed from one-sided matches to nail-biting contests. Since their first official meeting in 1988, the India national cricket team and the Bangladesh national cricket team have faced each other across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, creating unforgettable memories for cricket lovers.
This detailed timeline covers every significant encounter Asia Cups, World Cups, bilateral series, and knockout thrillers providing a clear journey of how this rivalry has evolved.
1988 – First-Ever Meeting
India and Bangladesh played their first official ODI in the 1988 Asia Cup at Chittagong.
- Date: October 27, 1988
- Format: ODI (Asia Cup)
- Result: India won by 9 wickets
- Highlight: India’s experience overpowered Bangladesh, who were still a developing cricket nation.
This marked the beginning of an international rivalry that would later intensify.
1990s – One-Sided Matches
Throughout the 1990s, India dominated Bangladesh in Asia Cup encounters.
- Bangladesh had not yet gained Test status.
- India won all Asia Cup games by huge margins.
- Matches often ended in one-sided fashion due to the difference in standards.
Example: In the 1998 Asia Cup, India beat Bangladesh convincingly at Dhaka, reflecting the gap between the two teams.
2000 – Bangladesh Gets Test Status
Bangladesh became a Test-playing nation in 2000 and played their inaugural Test match against India.
- Venue: Dhaka
- Date: November 2000
- Result: India won by 9 wickets
- Key Note: Sourav Ganguly captained India, while Aminul Islam scored a historic century for Bangladesh.
This was a landmark moment for Bangladesh cricket, though India dominated.
2003 World Cup – First World Cup Meeting
India and Bangladesh clashed for the first time in a World Cup in South Africa 2003.
- Result: India won comfortably by 82 runs.
- India advanced to the World Cup final.
- Bangladesh exited in the group stage.
2004 – Bangladesh’s First ODI Win Against India
Bangladesh shocked India by recording their first-ever ODI win in December 2004.
- Venue: Dhaka
- Result: Bangladesh won by 15 runs
- Impact: This was Bangladesh’s biggest cricketing moment at the time.
India fielded stars like Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, and Sachin Tendulkar, but Bangladesh held their nerve to script history.
2007 World Cup – The Biggest Upset
Bangladesh stunned India in the 2007 World Cup group stage, knocking them out.
- Venue: Port of Spain, West Indies
- Date: March 17, 2007
- Result: Bangladesh won by 5 wickets
- Impact: India failed to qualify beyond the group stage, while Bangladesh advanced to the Super 8s.
This remains one of the most famous India vs Bangladesh matches of all time.
2010 – Asia Cup Encounters
By 2010, Bangladesh was consistently challenging India in ODIs.
- In the Asia Cup 2010, India beat Bangladesh by 6 wickets.
- Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan had started emerging as key players.
- India, under MS Dhoni, went on to win the 2010 Asia Cup.
2011 World Cup – Opening Match Spectacle
India and Bangladesh met in the opening game of the 2011 World Cup at Dhaka.
- India scored 370/4, with Virender Sehwag smashing 175 and Virat Kohli 100*.
- Bangladesh responded with 283/9.
- India won by 87 runs and later lifted the trophy.
2012 Asia Cup – Bangladesh Stuns India Again
Bangladesh defeated India in the Asia Cup 2012 group stage.
- Venue: Dhaka
- Result: Bangladesh won by 5 wickets while chasing 290.
- Heroes: Shakib Al Hasan (49) and Mushfiqur Rahim (46) guided Bangladesh.
This win helped Bangladesh reach their first-ever Asia Cup final.
2015 World Cup – Quarter-Final Controversy
India and Bangladesh faced off in the quarter-final of the 2015 World Cup in Melbourne.
- India posted 302/6 with Rohit Sharma scoring 137.
- Bangladesh were bowled out for 193.
- Controversy: A no-ball decision against Rubel Hossain for a full toss (dismissal of Rohit) created uproar in Bangladesh.
India won by 109 runs but the controversy intensified the rivalry.
2016 Asia Cup T20 – India Wins the Final
The Asia Cup was played in T20 format for the first time in 2016.
- India defeated Bangladesh in the final at Dhaka by 8 wickets.
- Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni guided the chase easily.
- Bangladesh’s consistent run to the final established them as Asia’s second-strongest side after India.
2016 T20 World Cup – India Wins by 1 Run
India edged Bangladesh in a thriller at the 2016 T20 World Cup in Bangalore.
- Bangladesh needed 2 runs off 3 balls.
- They lost 3 wickets in 3 balls and lost by 1 run.
- MS Dhoni’s last-ball sprint run-out of Mustafizur Rahman is etched in memory.
This is regarded as one of the greatest finishes in T20 history.
2017 Champions Trophy – Semi-Final Clash
India crushed Bangladesh in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2017.
- Bangladesh scored 264/7.
- India chased it down easily with Rohit Sharma scoring 123* and Virat Kohli 96*.
- India advanced to the final but lost to Pakistan.
2018 Asia Cup – Last-Ball Thriller
India and Bangladesh played the 2018 Asia Cup final in Dubai, producing a classic.
- Bangladesh scored 222 runs.
- India chased it down on the last ball with Kedar Jadhav (23* off 27) injured but batting through.
- India won by 3 wickets, clinching the title in dramatic style.
2019 World Cup – India Ends Bangladesh’s Semi-Final Dream
India defeated Bangladesh in the 2019 World Cup group stage.
- Rohit Sharma scored 104 as India posted 314/9.
- Bangladesh fought but fell short at 286 all out.
- India won by 28 runs and eliminated Bangladesh from semi-final contention.
2022 T20 World Cup – Rain Drama
India defeated Bangladesh by 5 runs (DLS) in Adelaide during the 2022 T20 World Cup.
- India made 184/6 with Virat Kohli’s 64*.
- Litton Das smashed 60 off 27, giving Bangladesh a strong start.
- Rain interrupted play; revised target left Bangladesh needing 151 in 16 overs.
- They fell short by 5 runs in a thrilling finish.
2023 Asia Cup – Bangladesh Beats India
Bangladesh shocked India in the 2023 Asia Cup Super Four stage.
- Bangladesh made 265/8.
- Shubman Gill’s 121 kept India in the hunt, but India fell short by 6 runs.
- This win gave Bangladesh a morale boost ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
Test Match Timeline
India dominates Bangladesh in Test cricket.
- First Test: 2000 in Dhaka – India won by 9 wickets.
- Head-to-head record till 2025: India leads overwhelmingly with 13+ wins.
- Bangladesh has never beaten India in a Test match.
ODI Timeline
ODIs have produced the most dramatic India vs Bangladesh moments.
- Bangladesh’s first win in 2004.
- 2007 World Cup upset.
- 2012 Asia Cup win.
- 2015 World Cup quarter-final controversy.
- 2018 Asia Cup final thriller.
- 2023 Asia Cup upset.
India still leads the ODI record heavily, but Bangladesh has at least 8 wins.
T20I Timeline
India dominates T20Is, but Bangladesh occasionally challenges.
- First T20I: 2009 T20 World Cup – India won.
- Bangladesh’s only T20I win: 2019 in Delhi.
- India leads overall with a margin of 12+ wins.
Statistical Summary (Across Formats)
- ODIs Played: 40+ → India leads (30+ wins), Bangladesh 8+ wins.
- T20Is Played: 13+ → India leads (~12 wins), Bangladesh 1 win.
- Tests Played: 13+ → India leads all, Bangladesh 0 wins.
Final Verdict
The India vs Bangladesh rivalry has grown into one of cricket’s most passionate battles.
- India dominated the early years.
- Bangladesh earned respect with historic upsets (2007 World Cup, 2012 Asia Cup, 2023 Asia Cup).
- World Cups and Asia Cups have created unforgettable drama.
- Tests remain one-sided, but ODIs and T20Is are increasingly competitive.
For cricket lovers, this rivalry promises more intensity in the future as Bangladesh continues to improve and India maintains its dominance.
