By The Sampadak Express
In their opening match of the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai on Thursday, India emerged victorious with a workmanlike six-wicket win over Bangladesh. The victory was anchored by Shubman Gill’s unbeaten century and Mohammed Shami’s impressive five-wicket haul, both performances proving pivotal in the team’s dominant display.
Gill’s Resilient Century Guides India to Victory
Shubman Gill, the world’s No. 1 ranked ODI batter, delivered a measured and restrained century (101*, off 129 balls, with 9 fours and 2 sixes) that played a crucial role in India’s successful chase of Bangladesh’s modest total of 228. Gill’s knock was more about substance than style, reflecting his growing stature as one of India’s premier batting stars. It was a knock that showed maturity, composed resilience, and an unflappable temperament under pressure.
Chasing a target of 229, India’s openers got off to a strong start. Rohit Sharma (41 off 36 balls) and Gill put on 69 runs for the opening wicket in just 9.5 overs. However, the partnership was broken when Rohit went for a mighty heave off pacer Taskin Ahmed and was dismissed. India’s batting, though, faced a slight hiccup in the middle overs as the pitch began to slow down, presenting more of a challenge for the players.
Virat Kohli, despite looking watchful early on, eventually started to find his rhythm but was dismissed for 22 after being caught off a leg-spin delivery from Rishad Hossain. India’s middle-order woes continued with the quick dismissals of Axar Patel (promoted to No. 5) and Shreyas Iyer, leaving India at a slightly precarious 144 for four.
However, KL Rahul, who had been dropped on nine by Jaker Ali off Taskin, stood firm, playing a crucial knock of 41* off 47 balls. He, along with Gill, added an unbroken 87-run partnership for the fifth wicket, guiding India to the target in 46.3 overs, finishing with 231/4.
Bangladesh’s Fightback Through Hridoy and Ali
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh had found themselves in deep trouble at 35 for 5 after opting to bat first. However, Towhid Hridoy’s gutsy maiden ODI century (100 off 118 balls) and a resilient 68 from Jaker Ali (68 off 114 balls) resurrected their innings. The two combined for a 154-run stand for the sixth wicket, taking Bangladesh to a respectable total of 228 all out.
Hridoy’s innings was one of poise and patience, as he built his knock methodically while keeping the run rate ticking. His performance was commendable, especially as he showed composure under pressure, despite being dropped on a few occasions. Ali, too, played a crucial role, adding vital runs and playing the anchor role for much of the partnership.
However, their efforts were not without their fair share of luck. Ali was dropped on the very first ball he faced from Axar Patel, and Hridoy had a reprieve when Hardik Pandya missed a straightforward catch at mid-off off Kuldeep Yadav when he was on 23. Rahul also missed a stumping chance off Hridoy, giving the batter a second life. These slip-ups, however, did not detract from the fact that India’s bowlers, led by Shami, did a professional job in the middle and death overs.
Shami’s Masterclass and India’s Bowling Dominance
Mohammed Shami, in particular, was the standout performer for India with the ball. He took five wickets for 53 runs, playing a key role in dismantling Bangladesh’s batting line-up. Shami was instrumental in breaking the early Bangladesh resistance, taking the wickets of Soumya Sarkar (first over) and Mehdy Hasan Miraz, the latter dismissed in spectacular fashion by a sharp catch from Gill in the slips. Shami’s spell was a timely reminder of his abilities and experience, and it was his contributions that helped India control the match.
Shami also achieved a significant milestone during the match, becoming the fastest Indian bowler to reach 200 ODI wickets. His excellent spell was crucial in ensuring India’s win, and with his five-wicket haul, he is now India’s highest wicket-taker in ICC tournaments, surpassing the legendary Zaheer Khan’s tally of 59 wickets.
Supporting Shami was Harshit Rana, who impressed with his 3 for 31, providing ample backup and sharing the workload in the attack. The combined effort of Shami and Rana ensured that Bangladesh’s fightback, led by Hridoy and Ali, didn’t get out of hand, and India could restrict them to a modest total.
India’s Confidence Boost Before Pakistan Clash
The win against Bangladesh was a much-needed confidence booster for India as they head into their high-stakes clash against Pakistan on February 23. The victory also provided a glimpse into the resilience and depth of India’s squad, particularly in handling pressure situations. While the match saw a few slip-ups in the field and batting hiccups in the middle overs, the team’s overall composure and effectiveness, highlighted by Shami’s five-wicket performance and Gill’s match-winning knock, will serve them well in the upcoming matches of the tournament.
India’s well-rounded performance in their Champions Trophy opener is a promising start to what could be a thrilling campaign in Dubai.
