- विज्ञापन -
Dubai: Shubman Gill, the newly-crowned top-ranked men’s ODI batter, hit a gritty eighth century in the 50-over format and led India to a six-wicket win over Bangladesh to kick off their 2025 ICC Champions Trophy campaign on a high at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday.
After Mohammed Shami’s 5-53 helped India bowl out Bangladesh for 228, Gill took his time before grinding it hard on a sluggish pitch and amidst the pressure of wickets falling around to hit an unbeaten 101 off 129 balls, laced with nine fours and two sixes. Though it’s his slowest ODI hundred, it was worth its weight in gold for India to go into the clash against Pakistan with more confidence.
Gill got good support from captain Rohit Sharma, who made a quick 41, and later from KL Rahul, who fought through a tricky period to hit a very calm and composed 41 off 47 balls, thus showing why he’s preferred ahead of Rishabh Pant for the wicketkeeper-batter slot, as India finished off the chase with 21 balls to spare.
Chasing 229, Gill began with a glorious pull and loft off Taskin Ahmed for two fours, while Rohit took time to get going as Mustafizur Rahman squared him up with angled across deliveries. After that, Rohit opened up spectacularly to hit him for five boundaries, one of which made him the fourth Indian batter to cross 11,000 runs in ODIs mark.
Gill and KL Rahul displayed a sensible approach – mainly looking to rotate the strike and hitting a boundary when the ball was ideal to be sent to the ropes. Rahul got a life on nine when Jaker Ali dropped his catch at deep square leg. To rub salt in the wounds, Bangladesh bowled two loose balls which Gill and Rahul duly hit for four and six respectively.
Gill going back and short-arm jabbing Rishad through mid-wicket for four brought up the fifty of his important partnership with Rahul, who later cut Rahman through point for a lovely boundary. Gill flicked and pulled Tanzim for six and four respectively, before bringing up his century. Rahul finished the chase in style with a pulled six and helped 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
