Shubman Gill-inspired India secured an emphatic six-wicket win over Bangladesh in their Champions Trophy 2025 opener at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 20. Shubman Gill remained India's match-winner as he tonked a splendid century to help India chase down the 229-run target with 21 balls to spare.
Batting first Bangladesh were bowled out for 228 runs in 49.4 overs despite Towhid Hridoy's century. In reply, India rode on Shubman Gill's century to successfully chase down the target, scoring 231/4 in 46.3 overs to seal the win.
Shubman Gill played an instrumental role in India's chase, anchoring the innings with his eighth ODI century. He remained unbeaten on 101* runs off 129 balls, which was decorated with nine fours and two sixes. KL Rahul also chipped in with an unbeaten 41 runs, and was at the crease alongside Gill when India achieved victory.
Shubman Gill reveals dressing room message after India's 6-wicket win over Bangladesh
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill revealed the dressing room message when the pressure was piling on the team. Gill said when spinners came, he and Virat Kohli spoke on how it wasn't easy to hit singles on the front foot. Eventually they concentrated their back foot games. India got off to a decent start with Rohit Sharma (43) and Gill stitching 69-run opening partnership. However Rohit returned to the pavilion which brought Kohli in the crease. Kohli's stay on the crease was short-lived as he could only score 22 runs. India then lost Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel which left them reeling at 144/4. However Gill and Rahul stood the ground and walked out of the field only after rallying India past the finishing line.
"It is one of his most satisfying innings (His first century in ICC events). When I and Rohit went out there, just cutting the ball wasn't easy because the balls outside off stump weren't coming onto the bat. So I tried using my feet against the fast bowlers and go over the circle. Then when the spinners came on, I and Kohli spoke of how it wasn't easy to hit singles on the front foot. So we concentrated on playing back. At one point there was pressure on us and the message came from the dressing room that one batter had to bat through to the end. The first six gave me a lot of confidence, the second one got me closer to a hundred, so both were satisfying," Gill, who was adjudged player of the match, said at the post-match presentation.
India will now take on their arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23 at the Dubai International stadium.
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