Deepjal Sharma

The Himal World

India beat Bangladesh by 6 wickets in the opener in the Champions Trophy-2025, keeping the winning momentum in one day internationals (ODI).

In the match where India lost their top order batters, KL Rahul joined Shubman out in the middle and steadied the innings to hold the Men in Blue get the target with 21 balls left. India had lost the wickets of Virat Kohli (who needed 38 balls for his 22), Rohit Sharma (41 off 36 balls), Shreyas Iyer (15) and Axar Patel (8).

Shubman Gill showed just why he is the World No 1 ODI batter in the world, after scoring a fighting century (101) off 125 balls to guide India’s chase of 229 runs.

For India in the first innings, Mohammad Shami got a five-wicket haul. Meanwhile, Towhid Hridoy scored his maiden century, despite battling cramps that needed him to receive treatment at least twice during the game. Hridoy combined with Jaker Ali for a 154-run partnership to rescue Bangladesh from dire straits. Bangladesh had slumped to 35/5 at one stage, but Towhid and Jaker took them to 189 before Jaker departed for 68. By then, the duo had set the record for the highest sixth-wicket partnership in Champions Trophy history. This is also the highest partnership against India in ODIs by any nation for the sixth wicket.

India will now face Pakistan on 23 Feb in the Dubai International Stadium. This match will be a “do or die” for Pakistan, which has already lost their first match with New Zealand in the Champion Trophy-2025.

---