Mohammed Shami (left) took five wickets while Shubman Gill hit a century. Photos: PTI/BCCI
Shami, Gill shine as India launch Champions Trophy campaign with win
Mohammed Shami broke records while Shubman Gill scored his 8th ODI century against Bangladesh in Dubai
Paceman Mohammed Shami (5/53) and vice-captain Shubman Gill (101 not out) starred for India as they launched their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a hard-fought six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday night (February 20).
After restricting Bangladesh to 228 all out, India chased down the target in 46.3 overs (231/4) on a pitch that was not easy to bat in the second innings at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS).
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Gill made an unbeaten 101 off 129 balls, and skipper Rohit Sharma blazed away to a characteristic 36-ball 41 while completing 11,000 runs in ODIs. This was Gill's eighth ton in the format.
Sluggish surface
India negated various pressure points, including a sluggish surface, during their chase effectively through Gill’s knock full of substance.
It’s also a nerve-settling victory for India ahead of their much-awaited clash against a more accomplished Pakistan at the same venue on February 23.
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Gill, the world’s No. 1 ODI batter, played a massive role in India's win, dishing out a century that was more remarkable for its restraint than the customary flair.
Shubman Gill celebrates his century. PTI
Chasing a modest 229, openers Rohit Sharma (41, 36b) and Gill gave India a rollicking start.
They added 69 runs in 9.5 overs before Rohit got out to pacer Taskin Ahmed while attempting a mighty heave, leaving India at 69 for 1.
Kohli dismissed for 22
The partnership was significant from a game point of view as the pitch slowed down considerably in the middle overs, making batting a tad tougher task.
Virat Kohli looked a bit over-watchful and circumspect before opening his account after facing 10 balls.
Though he grew comfortable, an uppish cut of leg-spinner Rishad Hossain ended his stay for 22.
The quick wickets of Axar Patel, who was once again promoted to No. 5, and Shreyas Iyer had India at a slightly worrying 144 for four.
But KL Rahul, who was dropped on nine by Jaker Ali off Taskin, ensured that there were no further hiccups and played a resolute unbeaten innings of 41 off 47 balls.
Gill and Rahul added 87 runs for the unbroken fifth-wicket alliance to carry their side home.
Hridoy’s courageous ton, Shami’s fifer
Earlier, a cramping Towhid Hridoy made a courageous maiden ODI hundred but led by five-wicket man Shami India managed to keep Bangladesh to an underwhelming 228.
Hridoy (100, 118b, 6x4, 2x6) and an equally gutsy Jaker Ali (68, 114b, 4x4) added 154 for a doughty sixth-wicket stand to drag Bangladesh back from the depth of 35 for five after they elected to bat.
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Shami also eased a lot of worries over the absence of injured pace ace Jasprit Bumrah with a five for 53 effort, and during the spell he also became the fastest Indian bowler to reach 200 ODI wickets.
Hridoy's innings was an example of how to construct an innings yet maintain a healthy run-rate as he reached the milestone in just 114 balls.
He and Ali also showed excellent composure under pressure.
Axar denied hat-trick by Rohit’s drop
However, both the Bangladesh batters benefited from the largesse of Indian fielders, as Ali was dropped on zero off the first ball he faced off left-arm spinner Axar Patel (2/43).
It also robbed Axar of a hat-trick after he dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim and Tanzid Hasan off successive deliveries.
Hridoy had the fortune when he was grassed by Hardik Pandya at mid-off off Kuldeep Yadav when he was on 23.
Rahul, who was sharp behind the stumps, floored a stumping chance to give the second reprieve for Hridoy. Indian fielders were also sloppy in the middle passage, allowing the Bangladesh batters to steadily collect singles and twos to ease some pressure.
Shami breaks Zaheer’s record
But those moments of slip-ups should not take anything away from the way Indian bowlers, especially Shami, used the new ball on a rather slow but smooth pitch.
Shami, who had an average outing against England in T20I and ODI series recently at home, did not disappoint on the big stage and took the wicket of opener Soumya Sarkar in the first over itself.
He did not take much time to grab his second wicket when he ousted Mehdy Hasan Miraz – caught brilliantly by Shubman Gill in the slips.
The Bengal pacer later returned to break the determined stand between Hridoy and Ali, dismissing the latter.
He later took two more wickets, and now the 34-year-old is India’s highest wicket-taker in ICC tournaments, going past former pacer Zaheer Khan (59).
Harshit Rana (3/31), who was preferred over left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, gave good backing to his senior partner.
(With agency inputs)