Credit: BCCI/X
India started off their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a dominant victory over Bangladesh by six wickets at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. For India, Shubman Gill turned out to be a match-winner as the 25-year-old scored his maiden hundred in an ICC tournament for India. After hitting the steady hundred in 125 balls, Gill recreated his famous bow down celebration and was also acknowledged by skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the dressing room.
Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 101 runs off 129 balls hitting nine fours and two sixes. Along with Gill, KL Rahul also scored 41*(47) runs and smashed the winning six as India chased the target of 229 runs in 46.3 overs losing four wickets. The Men in Blue will now take on arch-rivals Pakistan in their second game in Dubai on February 23.
Mohammed Shami takes 5-wicket haul in India’s Champions Trophy opener
Making his return to the Indian squad with a few weeks ahead of the tournament, Mohammed Shami again stood up for India in an ICC event and ended up taking a five–wicket haul in India’s opening game of the Champions Trophy 2025. The right-arm fast bowlers registered the figures of 5/53 in his spell of 10 overs. Apart from that, Harshit Rana also impressed with three wickets while Axar Patel put two in his bag as India bowled Bangladesh out for 228 runs in 49.4 overs. For Bangladesh, Towhid Hridoy scored a fighting 100(118) runs hitting six fours and two sixes.
Chasing the winning target, skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave India a flying start as the duo put up a partnership of 69 runs for the first wicket in 9.5 overs. However, India went on to lose wickets in quick succession and were reduced to 144/4 after 30.1 overs. After that, KL Rahul joined Gill at the crease as they both put up an unbeaten partnership of 87 runs as India chased the target with 3.3 overs remaining losing four wickets.
