India kicked off their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 journey with an impressive six-wicket win over Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium on February 20, 2025. The match featured stellar performances from Shubman Gill, who scored an unbeaten century, and Mohammed Shami, who delivered a remarkable five-wicket haul.
Bangladesh’s Innings
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Bangladesh found themselves in deep trouble at 35/5, struggling against India’s disciplined bowling attack.
- Mohammed Shami led from the front, taking 5/53, and set a new record as the fastest bowler to reach 200 ODI wickets (in terms of balls bowled).
- Despite the early collapse, Towhid Hridoy (100) and Jaker Ali (68) put up a strong fight, building a 148-run partnership to push Bangladesh’s total to 228 all out.
- Harshit Rana also made an impact, picking up 3/31 with the ball.
India’s Chase
Chasing 229, India got off to a solid start with an opening partnership of 69 runs between Rohit Sharma (41) and Shubman Gill.
- A slight setback saw India lose three wickets for just 32 runs, but Gill’s unbeaten 101 ensured stability in the chase.
- KL Rahul (41)* provided excellent support, and together, they comfortably guided India to victory with 21 balls to spare.
- Rahul finished the match in style, smashing a six to seal the win.
Player Reactions
After the match, Shubman Gill called his century one of the most satisfying innings of his career, emphasizing the importance of staying composed under pressure.
- His 101 was his eighth ODI century* and his first in an ICC tournament, further solidifying his status as a key player for India.
Tournament Overview
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 features the top eight ODI teams and began on February 19.
- Due to security concerns, India’s matches are being hosted in Dubai, while the rest of the tournament takes place in Pakistan.
- India is part of Group A, alongside Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Pakistan.
- Their next match is a highly anticipated clash against Pakistan on Sunday.
With this victory, India has made a strong statement in the tournament, showcasing their batting depth and bowling strength as they aim for the prestigious Champions Trophy title.
