India kicked off their ICC Champions Trophy campaign in style, cruising to a six-wicket win over Bangladesh in Dubai. The star performers? Shubman Gill scored a masterful unbeaten century, and Mohammed Shami ripped through the opposition with a stellar five-wicket haul.
Gill’s Class and Shami’s Brilliance Shine Bright
Bangladesh posted 228 in 49.4 overs, thanks to a fighting century from Towhid Hridoy (100 off 118 balls) and a gritty 68 from Jaker Ali. However, their innings started disastrously, as India’s bowlers tore through the top order, reducing them to a shocking 35-5 inside nine overs.
Shami was the chief destroyer, taking 5-53 and becoming the fastest bowler to reach 200 ODI wickets in terms of balls bowled. Spinner Axar Patel also made an impact with two wickets in two balls, narrowly missing a hat-trick after Rohit Sharma dropped a straightforward chance at slip.
Hridoy and Jaker fought back with a marathon 154-run partnership, stabilizing Bangladesh’s innings. Hridoy eventually brought up his maiden ODI ton before being dismissed as the last man out.
Recommended Posts:
- Salome Salvi Biography: Age, Career, Video, Onlyfans And Net Worth
- Salome Salvi Opens Up About Her Career and Passion for Adult Entertainment (Porn)
India’s Chase: Smooth Sailing with Gill at the Helm
Chasing 229 for victory, India started aggressively, with Rohit Sharma smashing a quick 41 off 36 balls. However, it was Gill who anchored the chase with an outstanding knock, finishing on 101* off 129 balls. His calm and composed approach ensured India never lost control, even when Bangladesh showed glimpses of fight in the middle overs.
Bangladesh had a golden opportunity to put India under pressure when Jaker Ali dropped KL Rahul. Had he taken it, India would have been five down with 64 runs still needed. But the moment passed, and Gill continued to bat flawlessly, reaching his eighth ODI century and guiding India to victory with 3.3 overs to spare. Rahul sealed the win in style, launching a six over deep backward square.
India Show Their Strength – and Why They’re Favorites
This match reaffirmed India’s status as tournament favorites. Even after a few missteps, their overall quality was evident. Shami’s devastating spell and Gill’s composed century ensured a comfortable win, proving that India only need a couple of key performances to dominate any game.
Shami’s performance was particularly special, as he overtook Zaheer Khan to become India’s leading wicket-taker in men’s ICC tournaments. Despite a long injury layoff, the 34-year-old pacer remains a reliable match-winner for India on the biggest stage.
What’s Next?
India’s next big test comes against arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai, a must-watch encounter that could all but seal their semi-final spot.
For Bangladesh, the road to recovery starts with a clash against New Zealand in Rawalpindi on Monday. They’ll need to sharpen their fielding and top-order resilience if they are to stay alive in the tournament.
Elsewhere in the Champions Trophy…
The action continues on Friday with the first Group B match as South Africa take on Afghanistan in Karachi. The Proteas won the inaugural Champions Trophy in 1998, while Afghanistan is making its debut in the tournament.
Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament unfolds!