In a tense contest during the Champions Trophy group stage in Dubai, Shubman Gill held his nerve and anchored the Indian chase, scoring his slowest ODI century to help his side reach the target of 229 with six wickets in hand. Despite a strong fight from Bangladesh, spearheaded by Towhid Hridoy‘s century and Mohammed Shami‘s record-breaking performance with the ball, India managed to successfully navigate a tricky chase, aided by a crucial partnership between Gill and KL Rahul.
Bangladesh’s Early Collapse
Bangladesh were dealt an early blow as India’s bowlers, led by Shami, made quick inroads. The Bangladesh batting collapse began immediately, with Shami taking the crucial early wickets. The hosts were soon reduced to 35/5, a position from which they were struggling to recover. However, Towhid Hridoy emerged as a beacon of resistance, playing a fighting knock despite the mounting pressure. He was supported by Jaker Ali, and the pair forged a record-breaking sixth-wicket stand of 154 runs.
Both batters had to be cautious against India’s spinners, particularly in the middle overs when Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja bowled tightly. Bangladesh managed to recover, thanks to some sloppy fielding from India, including a couple of dropped catches, but Hridoy’s 100 off 139 balls and a cameo from Rishad Hossain took Bangladesh to a competitive total of 228.
India’s Response
Set a modest target of 229, India began their chase on the front foot with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill getting off to a brisk start. The pair added 69 runs for the first wicket, with Rohit scoring a quick 41 off 36 balls. However, once Rohit departed, India’s momentum slowed considerably. Shubman Gill, who had initially looked aggressive, adjusted his game to the conditions, anchoring the innings as wickets fell at the other end.
READ MORE: Hridoy’s Maiden ODI Century Propels Bangladesh to 228 Despite Shami’s Five-Fer
The loss of key wickets like Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer put India under pressure, and at one point, they were reduced to 156/4. Axar Patel’s promotion to No. 5 did not work as expected, as he fell cheaply to a Rishad Hossain topspinner. This left KL Rahul and Gill to rescue the chase.
Gill’s Patient Knock
Gill’s innings was a masterclass in playing within the context of the conditions. He adjusted his game perfectly, knowing that the pitch was slow, and boundaries were hard to come by. Despite India’s middle-order struggles, Gill played with patience, collecting singles and occasional boundaries while also taking calculated risks. His half-century came slowly but steadily, and he brought up his century off 125 balls, marking it as his slowest ODI hundred.
In the final overs, with India needing 19 runs to win, Gill took control, smashing a six and a four off Tanzim Hasan to reach his landmark and guide India closer to victory. Rahul, who had been playing a steady hand, then finished the job with a six off Tanzim, securing the victory with 21 balls to spare.
Post-Match Analysis
India’s victory was hard-fought, and despite the relatively low target, it was not without its challenges. The Indian batsmen misread the pitch early on, struggling against Bangladesh’s spinners and slower bowlers. However, Gill’s calm and measured approach helped India recover and claim the victory.
On the bowling front, Mohammed Shami was once again the standout performer. His 5/53 was instrumental in limiting Bangladesh to a total that gave India a chance, and he became the fastest to 200 ODI wickets. He was also supported by the spinners, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, who maintained pressure in the middle overs.
Conclusion
While India will take the win, they will need to address the middle-order concerns that surfaced during the chase. With a tricky pitch and Bangladesh’s resilient fight, the match served as a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead in the Champions Trophy. Shubman Gill’s century proved to be the difference in a match where India survived a banana peel but managed to come through with important lessons learned for the upcoming fixtures.
