In their opening encounter of the Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, India defeated Bangladesh by six wickets at Dubai International Stadium. Shubham Gill and Mohammad Shami emerged as heroes as Gill scored an unbeaten ton and Shami took a fifer to hand India their first win of the tournament.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s skipper, Shanto, decided to bat first after winning the toss on a flat-looking surface. However, this decision of the Bangladesh captain proved to be a horrendous call as they lost their top 5 batters in just 8.3 overs for just 35 runs. Mohammad Shami, Harshit Rana, and Axar Patel were running through Bangladesh’s batting lineup.
But after the powerplay, Towhid Hridoy and Jakir Ali steadied the ship by forming a 154-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Jakir scored 68 runs from 114 balls, and Towhid got out just after completing his century. In the fourth delivery of the 9th over, Rohit dropped Jakir Ali on a duck, which took away the opportunity from Axar to become the second Indian spinner to take a hat trick in ODIs.
India dismissed Bangladesh on 228 runs in 49.4 overs, setting themselves an easy target of 229. Rohit and Shubman started the innings the way India wanted them to; Sharma was flying bowlers in every corner of the ground until the second last ball of the first powerplay when he was caught by Taskin Ahmed on the delivery of Rishad Hossain. Rohit went back to the pavilion with an individual score of 41 (36).
Shubhman Gill and Virat Kohli forged a 43-run stand for the 2nd wicket before Kohli fell to Rishad Hossain when the score was 112. After that, India lost Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel in quick succession. But KL Rahul and Shubman Gill destroyed the slight hope that Bangladesh started to get into this match. Rahul scored an unbeaten 41* off 47, and Gill scored his ODI career’s 8th century, 101* off 129 to wrap up the game in 46.3 overs.
With this win, India increases their chances of making it to the semifinals. Next, they have to play their arch-rivals on Feb 23 in Dubai. On the other hand, Bangladesh has to face New Zealand in a do-or-die game in Rawalpindi on Feb 25.
Scorecard: India vs Bangladesh Champions Trophy 2025
Bangladesh
Towhid Hridoy- 100 (118)
Jakir Ali- 68 (114)
Tanzid Hasan- 25 (25)
Mohammad Shami- 53/5 (10 overs)
Harshit Rana- 31/3 (7.4 overs)
Axar Patel- 43/2 (9 overs)
India
Shubhan Gill- 101* (129)
Rohit Sharma– 41 (36)
KL Rahul– 41* (47)
Rishad Hossain- 2/38 (10 overs)
Taskin Ahmed- 1/36 (9 overs)
Mustafizur Rahman- 1/62 (9 overs)
