Shubman Gill’s earlier three scores coming into the Champions Trophy learn: 87, 60 and 112 (all towards England). On Thursday, the 25-year-old continued his purple patch as he smashed his eighth ODI hundred (101 n.o, 129b, 9×4, 2×6) to assist India kickstart its Champions Trophy marketing campaign with a six-wicket win over Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
In pursuit of a modest goal of 229, Gill confirmed why he’s the top-ranked batter in the format as he expertly shepherded the chase and carried his bat by.
He was aggressive in the PowerPlay after which hunkered all the way down to navigate the tough center part neatly when the spinners operated, making certain the Men in Blue received its marketing campaign off to a successful begin.
The victory, although, was in no small measure arrange by the bowlers led by Mohammed Shami (10-0-53-5), who scalped his sixth five-wicket haul to limit Bangladesh to 228.
On a pitch that was on the slower aspect, it was crucial to maximise the PowerPlay and openers Rohit Sharma and Gill received India off to a flyer, scoring 69 in the first 10 overs.
After beginning tentatively towards Mustafizur Rahman, Rohit took the left-arm pacer to the cleaners, smoking him for seven boundaries with some serene photographs by the sq. on the off-side.
Gill was to not be left behind, pulling the fiery Tanzim Hasan for a six after which charging all the way down to loft him over covers.
But Bangladesh received again into the contest by its spinners Rishad Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who squeezed the runs dry throughout the middle-overs.
Najmul Hossain Shanto’s males had a small opening in the sport when India misplaced three wickets for 22 runs and was in a spot of trouble at 144 for 4.
However, Gill and Okay.L. Rahul who reaffirmed his standing as the finisher by stroking a measured unbeaten 41 – stitched an unbroken 87-run stand for the fifth wicket to take their aspect dwelling.
Rescue job
Earlier, it was an innings of two halves for the Tigers, whose top-order simply crumbled inside the PowerPlay earlier than Towhid Hridoy (100) and Jaker Ali (68) repaired the harm by forging a masterful 154-run alliance for the sixth wicket.
Electing to bat, Bangladesh received off on the fallacious foot, shedding two wickets in the first two overs. Things went pear-shaped in the ninth over when Axar Patel struck off consecutive deliveries to take away Tanzid Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim to depart the Men in Green tottering at 35 for 5.
It might have been even worse had Rohit not fumbled a simple likelihood off the very subsequent supply at first slip, which gave Jaker a reprieve and denied Axar a hat-trick.
With their backs to the wall, Hridoy and Jaker confirmed nice software, seeking to bat 50 overs with out making an attempt something extravagant.
Once he crossed 50, Hridoy seamlessly shifted gears, gathering 30 runs off the subsequent 14 deliveries, raining sixes and fours. As he neared his landmark, the 24-year-old began cramping up badly, limping throughout the pitch, however ultimately received there in the penultimate over.
Though his efforts gave one thing for his aspect to bowl at, it was by no means going to be sufficient towards a powerful Indian batting line-up.
SCOREBOARD
BANGLADESH
Tanzid Hasan c Rahul b Axar 25 (25b, 4×4), Soumya Sarkar c Rahul b Shami 0 (5b), Najmul Shanto c Kohli b Harshit 0 (2b), Mehidy Hasan Miraz c Gill b Shami 5 (10b, 1×4), Towhid Hridoy c Shami b Harshit 100 (118b, 6×4, 2×6), Mushfiqur Rahim c Rahul b Axar 0 (1b), Jaker Ali c Kohli b Shami 68 (114b, 4×4), Rishad Hossain c Hardik b Harshit 18 (12b, 1×4, 2×6), Tanzim Hasan b Shami 0 (4b), Taskin Ahmed c Shreyas b Shami 3 (6b), Mustafizur Rahman (not out) 0 (2b); Extras (lb-1, w-7, nb-1): 9; Total (in 49.4 overs): 228.
FALL OF WICKETS
1-1 (Sarkar, 0.6 overs), 2-2 (Najmul, 1.4), 3-26 (Mehidy, 6.2), 4-35 (Tanzid, 8.2), 5-35 (Mushfiqur, 8.3), 6-189 (Jaker, 42.4), 7-214 (Rishad, 45.3), 8-215 (Tanzim, 46.2), 9-228 (Taskin, 48.4).
INDIA BOWLING
Shami 10-0-53-5, Harshit 7.4-0-31-3, Axar 9-1-43-2, Hardik 4-0-20-0, Jadeja 9-0-37-0, Kuldeep 10-0-43-0.
INDIA
Rohit Sharma c Rishad b Taskin 41 (36b, 7×4), Shubman Gill (not out) 101 (129b, 9×4, 2×6), Virat Kohli c Sarkar b Rishad 22 (38b, 1×4), Shreyas Iyer c Najmul b Mustafizur 15 (17b, 2×4), Axar Patel c & b Rishad 8 (12b, 1×4), Okay.L. Rahul (not out) 41 (47b, 1×4, 2×6); Extras (w-3): 3; Total (for 4 wkts. in 46.3 overs): 231.
FALL OF WICKETS
1-69 (Rohit, 9.5), 2-112 (Kohli, 22.4), 3-133 (Shreyas, 27.4), 4-144 (Axar, 30.1).
BANGLADESH BOWLING
Taskin 9-0-36-1, Mustafizur 9-0-62-1, Tanzim 8.3-0-58-0, Mehidy 10-0-37-0, Rishad 10-0-38-2.
India received by six wickets with 21 balls to spare.
Toss: Bangladesh.
PoM: Gill.
Published – February 20, 2025 10:40 pm IST
