February 20th 2025.
In a thrilling match on Thursday, India emerged victorious over Bangladesh in their Champions Trophy opener in Dubai. Shubman Gill's eighth ODI hundred and Mohammed Shami's five-wicket haul were the highlights of the game, propelling India to a well-deserved six-wicket win.
Gill's unbeaten innings was a work of art, reminiscent of the impressive performance by Bangladesh's Towhid Hridoy, who also scored a century that lifted their team from a dismal 35 for five to a respectable total of 228. However, India's strong batting lineup, led by Gill, was able to handle the various pressure points in their chase and ended up with a comfortable 231 for four in just 46.3 overs.
This win is a confidence booster for India as they prepare for their highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan at the same venue on February 23. Gill, who is currently the world's number one ODI batter, played a crucial role in this victory with a century that was more remarkable for its restraint rather than the usual flamboyance. This is a testament to his growing stature as India's new-generation batting star.
In pursuit of a modest 229, openers Rohit Sharma and Gill got India off to a strong start, adding 69 runs in just 9.5 overs. However, Rohit's dismissal by pacer Taskin Ahmed put a slight dent in their momentum. The partnership between Sharma and Gill was crucial as the pitch became slower in the middle overs, making batting a challenging task. Captain Virat Kohli also seemed a bit cautious at the start but eventually found his rhythm before being dismissed for 22 by leg-spinner Rishad Hossain.
Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer's quick wickets added some pressure to India's chase, but KL Rahul, who was dropped on nine by Jaker Ali off Taskin, played a solid unbeaten innings of 41 off 47 balls to ensure no further hiccups for India. He and Gill's unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 87 runs sealed the win for their team.
On the other hand, Bangladesh's Hridoy, who was suffering from cramps, showed great determination and courage to score his maiden ODI hundred. He was well supported by Ali, with whom he added 154 runs for the sixth wicket. This partnership helped Bangladesh reach a respectable total, but it was not enough to secure a win.
India also found another positive aspect in Shami's performance, who eased the worries over injured pace ace Jasprit Bumrah's absence with a five-wicket haul. During this spell, he also became the fastest Indian bowler to reach 200 ODI wickets. Hridoy's innings was a masterclass in constructing an innings while maintaining a good run-rate, as he reached his century in just 114 balls. He and Ali also displayed impressive composure under pressure.
However, both players were given reprieves by Indian fielders, with Ali being dropped off the first ball he faced and Hridoy being dropped twice by Hardik Pandya and Rahul. Despite these slip-ups, credit must be given to the Indian bowlers, especially Shami, who made excellent use of the new ball on a slow pitch. He took the wickets of opener Soumya Sarkar and Mehdy Hasan Miraz in the first two overs, and later returned to break the crucial partnership between Hridoy and Ali. With two more wickets, Shami became India's highest wicket-taker in ICC tournaments, surpassing the legendary Zaheer Khan. His teammate Harshit Rana also provided valuable support to him from the other end.
In conclusion, India's all-round performance, with Gill's brilliant century and Shami's impressive five-wicket haul, gave them a well-deserved victory over Bangladesh in their Champions Trophy opener. This win will surely boost their confidence as they prepare to face Pakistan in their next match.
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