India kicked off their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a dominant six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday. A stellar century from Shubman Gill and a five-wicket haul from Mohammed Shami were the standout performances as India successfully chased down the 229-run target set by Bangladesh.
Bangladesh, after opting to bat first, endured an early collapse but managed to recover, thanks to a crucial 154-run partnership between Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali. However, Shami’s brilliance with the ball restricted them to 228. India’s chase began with a solid opening partnership, and despite a few stumbles in the middle order, Gill and KL Rahul ensured a comfortable finish.
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Winning the toss, Bangladesh decided to bat but found themselves in deep trouble early on. Shami made an immediate impact in the very first over, dismissing Soumya Sarkar for a five-ball duck with a sharp delivery that KL Rahul caught behind. The troubles compounded when captain Najmul Hossain Shanto also fell for a two-ball duck, caught brilliantly by Virat Kohli at cover point off Harshit Rana’s bowling.
Despite Tanzid Hasan attempting to counter-attack with two boundaries off Shami, the pacer struck again, removing Mehidy Hasan Miraz for five runs with a sharp catch by Gill at slips. Bangladesh was left struggling at 26/3 in 6.2 overs.
Axar Patel then delivered a massive blow in the ninth over, dismissing the attacking Tanzid (25 off 25 balls) and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim for a duck, reducing Bangladesh to a disastrous 35/5 in 8.3 overs.
At this stage, Bangladesh desperately needed stability, which Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy provided. They cautiously built the innings, focusing on singles and doubles rather than aggressive stroke play. Their 50-run stand came off 84 balls, and Bangladesh reached the 100-run mark in 28.1 overs.
Jaker brought up his half-century in 87 balls, while Towhid reached his eighth ODI fifty in 85 balls. The duo’s partnership kept Bangladesh afloat, and as they grew in confidence, Towhid began attacking the spinners, also finding boundaries off Shami’s bowling.
Their resilient 154-run stand finally ended when Shami took his 200th ODI wicket, dismissing Jaker Ali for 68 off 114 balls. Virat Kohli took a fine catch near long-on, leaving Bangladesh at 189/6 in 42.4 overs.
Rishad Hossain briefly entertained the crowd, smashing two fours and a six off Axar Patel in a single over, taking Bangladesh to the 200-run mark in the 44th over. However, his cameo ended at 18 off 12 balls when Harshit Rana dismissed him with a sharp catch by Hardik Pandya.
Shami continued to trouble the Bangladesh lower order, cleaning up Tanzim Hasan Sakib for a duck, reducing them to 215/8 in 46.2 overs.
Despite the collapse, Towhid managed to complete his maiden ODI century in 114 balls, striking six fours and two sixes. However, Shami struck again to claim his five-wicket haul, removing Taskin Ahmed for three runs. Harshit then dismissed Towhid for 100 off 117 balls, with six fours and two sixes, as Bangladesh was bowled out for 228 in 49.4 overs.
Shami finished with impressive figures of 5/53, while Harshit took 3/31. Axar Patel also contributed with 2/43 in nine overs.
Chasing 229, India got off to a strong start, with openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill putting up a solid 69-run partnership. Rohit was the aggressor early on, taking on Mustafizur Rahman in the sixth over with three boundaries. By the eighth over, India had crossed the 50-run mark, courtesy of another boundary from the skipper.
Gill soon joined the action, striking well-timed boundaries. However, Rohit’s innings ended at 41 off 36 balls when he mistimed a lofted shot off Taskin Ahmed, caught by Rishad Hossain at deep midwicket.
Virat Kohli walked in at number three but struggled against the spinners. He built a 42-run stand with Gill but eventually fell for 22 off 38 balls, cutting a delivery straight to Soumya Sarkar at backward point off Rishad Hossain’s bowling. India reached 111/2 in 22.4 overs.
Gill, meanwhile, remained composed and reached his fourth consecutive fifty-plus ODI score, taking 69 balls with five fours and a six. However, the middle order wobbled as Shreyas Iyer (15 off 17) and Axar Patel (8 off 12) fell quickly, leaving India at 144/4 in 30.1 overs.
With India needing stability, KL Rahul and Gill took charge. Their partnership steadied the innings as they brought up the 200-run mark in the 43rd over.
Gill went on to complete his eighth ODI century in 125 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes. Fittingly, KL Rahul finished the match in style, launching a six to seal the win as India reached 231/4 in 46.2 overs. Gill remained unbeaten on 101 off 129 balls, while Rahul contributed 41 off 47 balls with a four and two sixes.
For Bangladesh, Rishad Hossain took two wickets, while Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman claimed one each.
Brief Scores:
- Bangladesh: 228 (Towhid Hridoy 100, Jaker Ali 68, Mohammed Shami 5/53)
- India: 231/4 (Shubman Gill 101, KL Rahul 41, Rishad Hossain 2/38).
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