Shubman Gill’s blazing unbeaten century lifts India to victory over Bangladesh

By K.R. Nayar 

Dubai.  Indian skipper Rohit Sharma dropped a sitter at first slip, denying Axar Patel his hat-trick. Fortunately, that drop did not cost India the match. From 35 for 5 in 8.3 overs, Bangladesh recovered to post 228 in 49.4 overs. However, this total wasn’t enough, and they lost the match by six wickets.

Indian opener Shubman Gill guided India to victory with a brilliant unbeaten 101 off 129 balls, including nine boundaries and two sixes, in their opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium.

It was Gill’s second consecutive ODI century. The in-form opener and vice-captain of the Indian team has been in tremendous touch, with scores of 87, 60, and 112 against England in the recent three-match series. His knock helped overshadow a few dropped catches by the Indian team.

Shubman Gill celebrates his century. Photo BCCI  

Unfortunately for Towhid Hridoy, his 100 for Bangladesh went in vain. Jaker Ali, who was dropped by Sharma, capitalized on the chance and scored 68 runs.

The match began with Indian pacer Mohammed Shami, returning from an injury break, delivering as expected. He dismissed opener Soumya Sarkar for a duck with the last ball of the first over. Sarkar’s inside edge was safely taken by wicketkeeper KL Rahul. Shami then removed Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 5, his outside edge brilliantly snapped up by Shubman Gill at slips. Before Shami’s second strike, Harshit Rana had removed Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, who drove a catch to Virat Kohli for a duck in the second over.

The gloom among Bangladesh fans was momentarily lifted when opener Tanzid Hasan struck two consecutive boundaries. But his innings didn’t last long. Axar Patel, bowling the ninth over, had Tanzid nick one to Rahul for a run-a-ball 25. The next batter, Mushfiqur Rahim, also fell to a sharply turning delivery from Patel that took the shoulder of his bat on its way to Rahul’s gloves.

When Patel was on the verge of a hat-trick, Sharma dropped Jaker Ali, paving the way for Bangladesh to stage a fightback. The result was a crucial 154-run partnership in 206 balls between Jaker and Hridoy. Patel had the opportunity to become only the second bowler in ICC Champions Trophy history to claim a hat-trick after West Indies’ Jerome Taylor in the 2006 edition. It would have also been Patel’s first-ever hat-trick in any format, including domestic cricket.

Bangladesh’s recovery was aided by some luck, as Hardik Pandya dropped Hridoy on 23 at mid-off off Kuldeep Yadav, and Rahul missed a stumping chance when Jaker was on 24 off Ravindra Jadeja. Jaker’s innings finally ended in the 43rd over when Shami struck again, with Kohli catching him at long-on for 68.

Hridoy reached his maiden ODI and international century in the 49th over, receiving a standing ovation. Shami then picked up his fifth wicket, dismissing Taskin Ahmed for 3, caught by Shreyas Iyer at deep mid-wicket, while Rana claimed his third wicket by ending Hridoy’s fine innings of 100 off 118 balls, which included six boundaries and two sixes.

Mohammed Shami being congratulated for his five wicket spell 

Chasing the target, Sharma and Gill gave India a solid start, putting on 69 runs in 9.5 overs before Sharma lofted Taskin Ahmed to Rishad Hossain at cover point for 41. His 36-ball knock included seven boundaries.

Virat Kohli struggled, taking ten balls to get off the mark before hitting a simple catch off Hossain to Soumya Sarkar at backward point. He consumed 38 balls to score just 22 runs.

Gill kept the scoreboard ticking and reached his half-century in 69 balls. Shreyas Iyer did not last long, hitting Mustafizur Rahman straight to Shanto at mid-off for 15. Axar Patel followed soon after, caught and bowled by Hossain for 8.

With India needing 84 runs from the last 19 overs, KL Rahul had a lucky escape on 9 when Jaker dropped him at deep square leg off Taskin. With 63 runs still required, Rahul accelerated and remained unbeaten on 41 off 47 balls. India secured their victory with 21 balls to spare.