India will begin its ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against Bangladesh in Group A at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on Thursday.
India and Bangladesh have faced each other only once in this tournament, at Edgbaston, Birmingham, during the 2017 edition. It was for a place in the final.
India had cruised through Group B, which featured South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and was up against a spirited Bangladesh side that had upset New Zealand to make the semifinals for the first time.
The Bangla Tigers had beaten India 2-1 in an ODI series in 2015 and had the potential to pull off a heist.
Virat Kohli celebrates after taking a catch to dismiss Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim off the bowling of Kedar Jadhav
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Virat Kohli celebrates after taking a catch to dismiss Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim off the bowling of Kedar Jadhav
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
On a cloudy morning at Edgbaston, India won the toss and sent Bangladesh to bat. Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck immediately, dismissing Soumya Sarkar in the first over. Sabbir Rahman came in at No. 3 and tried to counter attack the swing and seam. It ended soon when he was caught by Ravindra Jadeja at backward point off Bhuvneshwar.
Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim joined Tamim Iqbal to steady the ship. They set the foundation with a 122-run partnership and 300 was on the cards. However, in came Kedar Jadhav with his wily off-spin and broke the partnership. Jadhav, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar ended with two wickets each. Tamim top scored with 70 off 82 deliveries and Bangladesh posted 264/7.
Chasing 265, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan started off on a cautious note against Mashrafe Mortaza. But they took the attack to the other two pacers, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman.
Shikhar eventually got out on 46, but gave India a solid foundation. Virat Kohli continued from where Shikhar left and supported Rohit from one end. Rohit reached his 100 in 111 deliveries. India cruised past the target in the 41st over and entered the final to play arch-rival Pakistan.