Finance
Shubman Gill, the newly crowned top men’s ODI batter, produced a tough eighth century in the 50-over format to lead India to a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday, kicking off their 2025 ICC Champions Trophy campaign on a high.
After Mohammed Shami’s 5-53 helped India bowl out Bangladesh for 228, Gill took his time before grinding it out on a slow pitch and under pressure from falling wickets to score an unbeaten 101 off 129 balls, including nine fours and two sixes. Though it was his slowest ODI century, it was worth its weight in gold in terms of giving India more confidence heading into the match against Pakistan.
Gill received good support from captain Rohit Sharma, who scored a quick 41, and later from KL Rahul, who battled through a difficult period to hit a very calm and composed 41 off 47 balls, demonstrating why he is preferred over Rishabh Pant for the wicketkeeper-batter slot, as India finished the chase with 21 balls to spare.
Chasing 229, Gill started with a beautiful pull and loft off Taskin Ahmed for two fours, but Rohit struggled to get going as Mustafizur Rahman squared him up with angled deliveries. After that, Rohit opened up wonderfully, hitting him for five boundaries, one of which propelled him to become the fourth Indian hitter to score 11,000 runs in ODIs.
After Gill flicked Taskin over mid-on for four, Rohit steered him for two boundaries through the off-side in the eighth over. Gill wowed everyone by unfurling a short-arm jab and hitting Taskin over cover for six and four respectively. But Rohit’s quick start ended when he charged down the pitch to loft Taskin but toe-edged to cover-point and fall for 41 off 36 balls.
With the ball turning old and now dew there, Bangladesh’s spinners found some turn, meaning that Gill and Virat Kohli had to take the slow route. Just when it seemed like Bangladesh were building pressure firmly, Kohli got his first boundary by pulling a short ball down leg-stump from Mehidy Hasan Miraz. But in the next over, Kohli couldn’t keep the cut down and sliced straight to the backward point off leg-spinner Rishad Hossain.
Gill marched forward to get his fifty in 69 balls, the slowest half-century he’s ever hit in ODIs, even as Shreyas Iyer survived a run-out chance. After slashing Mustafizur through backward point, Shreyas fell on the very next ball as he toe-ended a loft on an off-cutter to mid-off. Three overs later, Axar Patel went for a slog, but got a top edge and Rishad caught it safely off his own bowling.
Gill & KL Rahul had a sensible strategy, focusing on rotating the strike and striking a boundary when the ball was best suited to the ropes. Rahul gained a life on nine as Jaker Ali missed his catch at deep square leg. To add salt to the wound, Bangladesh bowled two loose balls, which Gill and Rahul smacked for four and six, respectively.
Gill went back and short-arm jabbed Rishad through mid-wicket for four, bringing his key partnership with Rahul to fifty. Rahman was later sliced through point for a magnificent boundary. Gill flicked and pulled Tanzim for six and four, respectively, before completing his century. Rahul concluded the chase in style with a drawn six, helping India kick off their Champions Trophy campaign with a win.
Brief scores:
Bangladesh 228 all out in 49.4 overs (Towhid Hridoy 100, Jaker Ali 68; Mohammed Shami 5-53, Harshit Rana 3-31) lost to India 231/4 in 46.3 overs (Shubman Gill 101 not out, Rohit Sharma 41; Rishad Hossain 2-38, Taskin Ahmed 1-36) by six wickets
Source: IANS
