India secured a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in their opening match of the Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Shubman Gill led the chase brilliantly, scoring 101 runs off 129 balls and ensuring a smooth finish.
Bangladesh’s Struggles and Hridoy’s Fightback
Bangladesh chose to bat first but struggled early. They collapsed to 35 for five as India’s bowlers dominated. Mohammed Shami (5/53), Harshit Rana (3/31), and Axar Patel (2/43) took key wickets in the powerplay. The early setbacks put Bangladesh under pressure.
However, Towhid Hridoy (100 off 118 balls) fought back impressively. He formed a 154-run partnership with Jaker Ali (68 off 114 balls) to rescue Bangladesh’s innings. Despite their efforts, the Indian bowlers struck late to restrict Bangladesh to 228 all out.
Chasing 229, India started well but lost their fourth wicket at 144 in the 31st over. On a slow surface, batting was not easy. However, Gill remained composed, pacing his innings smartly. He reached his eighth ODI century, guiding India to a comfortable win.
Champions Trophy: India’s Upcoming Matches
Earlier, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 60 runs in the tournament opener in Karachi. Meanwhile, India will play all their matches in Dubai, where the conditions are often tricky.
In recent months, India faced difficulties on slow pitches. Their series defeat in Sri Lanka raised concerns. However, they dominated against England in the warm-up series, displaying strong batting performances. With this solid start, India will aim to maintain momentum in the tournament.
