India secured a dominant six-wicket win over Bangladesh in their ICC Champions Trophy encounter at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday.
Chasing a target of 229 runs, India comfortably achieved the victory in 46.3 overs, losing only four wickets in the process.
Batting first, Bangladesh struggled early in their innings and were bowled out for 228 runs in 50 overs. The top order faltered under India’s disciplined bowling attack, with Mohammad Shami leading the charge, taking an impressive five-wicket haul. However, a commendable fightback by Tawhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali helped Bangladesh recover from a precarious position, with Hridoy notching his maiden ODI century. Despite their efforts, the target proved insufficient against a strong Indian batting lineup.
With this win, India and New Zealand now sit at the top of Group A in the race to the semi-finals. The focus now shifts to Group B, where Afghanistan will take on South Africa in the next fixture at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday, February 21.
Post-Match Reactions
Rohit Sharma, India’s Captain: Rohit acknowledged the ups and downs during the match, emphasizing the importance of staying composed in different situations. He lauded Shubman Gill and KL Rahul for their composed batting performances and praised Shami’s exceptional bowling display. Rohit also credited Bangladesh’s Hridoy and Jaker Ali for their solid partnership, which kept the match competitive.
Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh’s Captain: Shanto admitted that Bangladesh’s poor start in the first powerplay cost them the match, as losing five early wickets made it challenging for the lower-order batters. He noted that they fell short by around 30 runs and praised Hridoy’s resilience. Shanto expressed hope that Bangladesh’s batting unit would improve in the upcoming games and mentioned that early wickets in India’s innings could have shifted the momentum.
Player of the Match: Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill was named the Player of the Match for his well-constructed century, which anchored India’s successful chase. Gill shared that his strategy was to play according to the conditions and capitalize on loose deliveries. He credited his partnership with Rohit and later with Virat Kohli for stabilizing the innings and ensuring a smooth finish.
Match Summary
India’s chase started strongly, with openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill putting on a 69-run stand before Rohit was dismissed by Taskin Ahmed. Bangladesh briefly threatened a comeback, especially after Rishad Hossain removed Virat Kohli. However, Gill’s composed innings, along with KL Rahul’s late contribution, ensured India crossed the finish line without much trouble.
For Bangladesh, Rishad Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz bowled effectively in the middle overs, slowing India’s scoring rate. However, their total was always going to be difficult to defend against India’s experienced batting lineup.
With this win, India have begun their Champions Trophy campaign on a high note. For Bangladesh, they will need to regroup and address their top-order concerns if they are to stay in contention in the tournament.
