Key Points
- Abhishek Sharma starred with a fiery 75 off 37 balls, while Kuldeep Yadav’s 3/18 sealed the deal with the ball
- Bangladesh collapsed from 65/2 to 112/8, unable to recover despite a lone fight from Saif Hassan (69 off 51)
DUBAI: India became the first team to book their spot in the Asia Cup 2025 Final after a clinical 41-run victory over Bangladesh in the Super Fours clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
India posted a competitive 168/6, riding on a blistering 75 off just 37 balls from young opener Abhishek Sharma, who continued his sensational form with a strike rate of 202.70. His knock, packed with six fours and five sixes, set the tone early in the innings, as he and Shubman Gill (29 off 19) powered India to 77 in the powerplay.
However, a mid-innings wobble saw India lose quick wickets, with captain Suryakumar Yadav (5) and Shivam Dube (2) falling cheaply. Hardik Pandya added stability with a composed 38 off 29, while Axar Patel’s 10 ensured India batted out the 20 overs.
Bangladesh fumble despite Saif’s fight
In reply, Bangladesh never found rhythm in their chase of 169. Despite a valiant 69 from Saif Hassan, who held the innings together for 51 balls, the rest of the batting collapsed around him. Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 127 in 19.3 overs, falling well short of the target.
India’s bowling was spearheaded by Kuldeep Yadav (3/18) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/18), with crucial support from Varun Chakravarthy (2/29) and Tilak Varma, who took the final wicket to seal the deal. Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya played key supporting roles, with Axar taking one and containing the middle overs.
Turning point
Bangladesh lost momentum in the middle overs, collapsing from 65/2 to 112/8 in the space of seven overs, thanks to relentless pressure from India’s spin duo and sharp fielding, including a crucial run-out by Suryakumar Yadav.
What’s next?
With this win, India are the first to qualify for the Asia Cup 2025 Final, while Bangladesh now face a must-win scenario in their remaining Super Fours match to stay alive in the tournament.
