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On Thursday, February 20, Rohit Sharma-led Team India defeated Bangladesh by six wickets in their Group A clash of ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. After Towid Hridoy scored a century off 118 deliveries, along with stitching a crucial 154-run partnership with Jaker Ali (68 off 114) to help Bangladesh post 228 runs on the board, Shubman Gill notched up his eighth ODI hundred to help India cross the line with 21 balls to spare.
For the unversed, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and chose to bat first in a scorching Dubai heat. While opener Soumya Sarkar was dismissed in the opening over off Mohammed Shami, Najmul Hossain Shanto also departed for a two-ball duck in the very next over, which was bowled by Harshit Rana. Three more wickets, including the likes of Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Tanzid Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim departed inside the first powerplay, leaving the Bangla Tigers on a backfoot.
Mohammed Shami’s five-fer and Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 101 guide India to their first win of CT 2025
Thereafter, Towid Hridoy and Jaker Ali stitched a crucial 154-run partnership for the sixth wicket, which turned out to be the highest for the sixth wicket in ODI for Bangladesh, helped them cross the 200-run margin. For India, Mohammed Shami was the star with the ball, pickin five wickets along with reaching a milestone of fastest to 200 wickets, Harshit Rana picked three and Axar Patel scalped two wickets.
During their run chase of 229, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill opened for the Men in Blue. While Rohit added 41 runs off 36 deliveries, Gill went onto score his eighth ODI hundred. He was well joined by KL Rahul, who scored 41* off 47 deliveries to help the side cross the line with 21 balls to spare.
The Men in Blue will have a tough challenge as they take on arch-rivals Pakistan in the next Group A clash, scheduled on Sunday, February 23, Bangladesh on the other hand, will take on New Zealand at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday, February 24.
