In an thrilling Champions Trophy clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the result went India’s way in the form of a commanding 6-wicket win over Bangladesh. The match saw several thrilling moments, from Mohammed Shami’s brilliant five-wicket haul to Rohit Sharma reaching another milestone in his illustrious career. Despite a strong fightback from Bangladesh, India comfortably chased down the target of 229, thanks to a solid performance from their top-order batsmen. Here’s a closer look at the top five highlights of the match:.
1) Mohammed Shami’s Stunning Fifer
Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami made a sensational impact, marking his return to form with a crucial five-wicket haul. He established the feeling right from the start by pulling Soumya Sarkar and Mehidy Hasan Miraz from the side, leaving Bangladesh in a bad condition. His most significant moment came when he dismissed Jaker Ali for 68, securing his 200th ODI wicket. Shami then completed the innings by bagging the wickets of Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Taskin Ahmed, producing remarkable figures and again demonstrating his skill.
Rohit Sharma’s frustrated after that catch drop on Axar Patel’s hat-trick ball. Feel for bapu Axar Patel.#PAKvNZ #INDvsBAN #RohitSharma𓃵 #ChampionsTrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/0WT5lWijFo
— Indian Cricket Fc (@Jonathan_fcc) February 20, 2025
2) Axar Patel’s Near Hat-Trick Moment
Axar Patel came agonizingly close to making history, but a dropped catch by skipper Rohit Sharma denied him a hat-trick. In the ninth over, Axar removed Anzid Hasan Tamim and Mushfiqur Rahim in succession creating a difficult situation for Bangladesh to make 35/5. However, Rohit’s missed chance on Jaker Ali’s catch meant Axar couldn’t etch his name in the record books. Despite the setback, the spinner played a pivotal role in restricting Bangladesh’s total.
3) Rohit Sharma Achieved the second fastest 11,000 runs milestone in ODI career.
Rohit Sharma is continuing to build his legacy as one of the best in the game. The Indian captain threw another accomplishment onto his belt by eclipsing the second fastest batsman in 11 ,000 ODI runs. Reaching this milestone in just 261 innings, he is (following) only behind the Virat Kohli (222 innings). Rohit’s 41-run contribution at the strike of the innings gave the India team an excellent foundation and so the chase remained in their control.
4) Shubman Gill’s First Century in an ICC Event.
Young sensation Shubman Gill showcased his class with a magnificent century, his first ever in an ICC tournament. With India losing wickets at regular intervals, Gill played a composed innings, anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 101. His contribution was very important in guiding India to win, thus he is regarded as the next generation of Indian cricket. By being patient and making the right shot calls, Gill never really allowed any serious likelihood of India’s chase and that, despite a few minor bumps in the middle overs.
5) The Steady Hand of KL Rahul in the Middle Order.
After a brief collapse in the middle overs, KL Rahul played a stabilizing knock, demonstrating why he remains a vital cog in India’s batting lineup. His 41-run innings off 47 balls was instrumental in guiding India home with minimal fuss. Rahul rotated the strike well against the spinners and found boundaries when needed, ensuring there were no late dramas in the run chase.
Match Summary
After electing to bat first, Bangladesh found it difficult to get going as india bowling kept them under control. Although they mounted a late fightback orchestrated by Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy, the duo could get only 228. Back, India responded by starting tough, with Gill’s hundred and key innings from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul sealing the victory fairly.
Winning this competition marks the start of India’s Champions Trophy journey with a good note and a statement to the rest of the competition. As they gear up for the upcoming matches, the team will look to build on this momentum and continue their dominant run on the global stage.
