Deepak Chahar took apart the Bangladesh batting order on Sunday to hand India a 30-run win that helped the Men in Blue clinch the three-match T20I series 2-1 at the VCA Stadium, Nagpur on Sunday.
Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president, took to Twitter to hail Chahar's bowling exploits. The former India captain wrote, "Congratulations @deepak_chahar9 @ImRo45 @bcci for the win .. never easy with so much dew .."
The 27-year-old seamer bagged 6 wickets for just 7 runs, including a hat-trick, from 3.2 overs to return with the best ever figures in the history of T20 internationals, surpassing the previous record held by Sri Lanka's Ajantha Mendis who scalped 6/8 against Zimbabwe in 2012.
Ganguly's long-time opening partner and batting great Sachin Tendulkar wrote, "Exceptional bowling by @deepak_chahar9! He bowled very smartly and used his variations well to pick up crucial wickets at crucial stages. Special mention to @IamShivamDube, @ShreyasIyer15 & @klrahul11 to give #TeamIndia the series victory in the decider. #INDvsBAN".
Chahar thus became the first Indian male cricketer, and 12th overall, to take a hat-trick in T20 internationals. In women's cricket, Ekta Bisht had taken a hat-trick against Sri Lanka in 2012.
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Another batting great, VVS Laxman hailed India's all-round display in his tweet. "Congrats Team India on the series win. Gr8 to see the way Rahul & Shreyas batted and then outstanding spell of bowling from Chahar who was ably supported by Shivam Dube and other bowlers. #IndvsBan @StarSportsIndia," he wrote.
An elated Harbhajan Singh gave "the man of the month" award to Chahar.
In the list of Indian bowlers in T20 internationals, Chahar bettered the figures of Yuzvendra Chahal, who held the previous record of 6/25 which came against England in 2017.
With Bangladesh chasing 175 for victory, Man of the Match Chahar started off with two early blows in, dismissing opener Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar off consecutive deliveries in the third over.
He then broke a 98-run third-wicket stand between Mohammad Naim and Mohammad Mithun that threatened to take the match away from India by dismissing the latter.
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He then got the wicket of Shafiul Islam off the last delivery of the 18th over and then returned to dismiss Mustafizur Rahman and Aminul Islam off the first two balls of the 20th over to complete his hat-trick.
Chahar's heroics on Sunday took his series tally to 8 wickets for 56 runs in 10.2 overs.
