Shubman Gill Century Leads India to Victory in Champions Trophy Opener
India started their Champions Trophy journey with a solid six-wicket win over Bangladesh. Shubman Gill led the charge with an impressive century. At Dubai International Stadium, India chased down Bangladesh’s 228 runs in 47 overs. This win keeps India’s unbeaten record in the tournament.
Bangladesh Struggles After Opting to Bat First
Winning the toss, Bangladesh chose to bat first, but their innings quickly unraveled. Mohammed Shami, the Indian pacer, made an early impact. He caused a big collapse. Bangladesh lost three wickets before reaching 50 runs.
A tough day in the field for 🇮🇳 as we let a few chances slip! 😓
Rohit Sharma 🏏 drops a catch, denying Axar Patel a well-deserved hattrick !
Hardik Pandya & KL Rahul also miss key opportunities.#IndvsBan | #championstrophy | #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/FhIV9D4Mok
— Indian Cricket Team (@incricketteam) February 20, 2025
Spinners then tightened their grip, exploiting the turning pitch. Axar Patel almost got a hat-trick. But Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya dropped catches, letting Bangladesh bounce back. Zakir Ali took advantage of missed chances and scored a key half-century. Meanwhile, Towhid Hridoy marked his first Champions Trophy century. Bangladesh’s lower order fell apart. They only scored 228 runs and got bowled out in their 50 overs.
Shubman Gill Anchors India’s Chase
Captain and Vice-captain on song in the chase! 🎶🎶
FIFTY partnership up between the openers 🤝
Follow the Match ▶️ https://t.co/ggnxmdG0VK#TeamIndia | #BANvIND | #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/BTGBP4On70
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 20, 2025
India aimed for 229 under the lights. They started strong with captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill at the crease. Rohit scored 41 runs off 32 balls, giving the team a strong start. Then, Taskin Ahmed got him out. Virat Kohli scored a careful 22 runs from 38 balls. Then, he got out to Bangladesh’s strong bowling attack.
With wickets falling at regular intervals, India found themselves in a precarious position. However, Shubman Gill remained composed, constructing his innings with precision. He reached his half-century and continued to accelerate, displaying excellent shot selection. Despite losing Axar Patel, Gill found a reliable partner in KL Rahul, who contributed a steady 40 runs.
Gill scored a brilliant century, his first in the Champions Trophy. This helped India win confidently. The winning runs came in the 47th over, securing India’s first points in the tournament.
India Sets Up High-Stakes Clash Against Pakistan
India’s win keeps their unbeaten streak alive in the tournament. Now, they are focused on a key match against arch-rival Pakistan on February 23. Pakistan lost their first game to New Zealand. Now, they must win this important match.
Shubman Gill earned Man of the Match for his game-winning performance. This highlights his role as a key player for India.
