Credit: ICC
Hours before India’s opening Champions Trophy 2025 match against Bangladesh in Dubai, BCCI revisited India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory with a video on Instagram. At the iconic Dubai International Stadium, the 2013 title winners will look to be dominating against Bangladesh, who haven’t won any matches against India in ICC tournaments after their victory against the Men in Blue in the World Cup 2007 played in the West Indies. In June 2024, India ended their ICC trophy drought after 11 years with their T20 World Cup 2024 win. Revisiting India’s success, Indian cricket team posted a video and wrote, “Dear #TeamIndia Fans, Let's be Champions together" - Rohit Sharma #ChampionsTrophy | @rohitsharma45.”
In the Dubai contest, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first. Mohammed Shami delivered the first breakthrough in the form of Soumya Sarkar, who went back to the pavilion with a five-ball duck. Following Sarkar, skipper Shanto also departed after failing to rack up any runs. Harshit Rana got rid of the southpaw. As of writing, the Bangla Tigers have lost five wickets at score of 36 in nine overs. Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali are at the crease with their scores of 4 (9) and 1 (2) respectively. Shami and Axar Patel have bagged two wickets each while Rana also got one batter.
Virat Kohli eyes new feat to his name in Dubai
India legend Virat Kohli will be expected to be at his best in the ongoing contest against Bangladesh as he is only 37 runs away to shatter his compatriot Sachin Tendulkar’s record of reaching the fastest 14000 ODI runs. The Master Blaster notched up his 14000 run in his 350th innings of the 378th ODI while Kohli will achieve the record in his 286th ODI innings if he succeeds to touch the 37-run mark in the game.
Besides Kohli, speedster Mohammed Shami might also register a new feat in the ongoing game. The pacer is only one wicket away from clinching 200 ODI wickets in national colours. Shami was the star with the ball in India’s terrific campaign in the World Cup 2023. With 24 wickets in seven matches at an economy of 5.26, he ended up as the leading wicket-taker in the ODI competition.
