India players celebrate the wicket of Bangladesh’s Tanzid Hasan
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Warm, sweaty evenings are the norm in this part of the world. It is becoming as much of a norm for Abhishek Sharma to show his belligerent strokeplay for India in the T20 format. On Wednesday (September 24, 2025) evening, the southpaw hammered 75 off 37 balls to help his side get to 168 for six and register a 41-run win against Bangladesh in a Super Four encounter of the Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
By virtue of the win, India has qualified for Sunday’s final. Bangladesh’s contest against Pakistan on Thursday is a virtual semi-final with Sri Lanka knocked out.
Bangladesh was in with a chance in the chase after pulling things back with the ball. Rishad Hossain effected Abhishek’s run-out in addition to claiming two scalps with his leg-spin.
But the Jaker Ali-led outfit – full-time skipper Litton Das was out due to a back strain – could only manage 127 in response. Saif Hassan’s 69 was the lone bright spot in the reply as India’s bowlers produced another fine display. Kuldeep Yadav took three scalps while Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy claimed two each.
India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav, second from left, successfully run out Bangladesh’s Jaker Ali, right, during the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Bangladesh at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri )
| Photo Credit:
Altaf Qadri
Hassan, who had smashed 61 in Bangladesh’s successful chase of 169 over Sri Lanka last Saturday, didn’t help his cause with his involvement in Jaker’s run-out courtesy a direct hit from Suryakumar Yadav.
The game should have been in India’s pocket when Hassan, who reached his half-century off 36 balls, skied Varun twice in the 16th over, but Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson made a hash of these chances to prolong matters. Nevertheless, Kuldeep struck off successive deliveries in the next over and left Hassan with too much to do.
The win was set up by Abhishek and Shubman Gill’s opening stand of 77 runs. With a sluggish outfield playing its part, India was 17 for no loss after three overs.
But it proved to be the proverbial lull before the storm. Gill went after left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed in a 21-run over. Abhishek, too, shifted gears in the fifth over. He greeted Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker in this format, with a six over mid-on. In the same over, he waltzed down the track and slammed the pacer towards the third man region for another maximum.
By the time the Powerplay ended, India had sauntered to 72 for none with Abhishek on 46 off 19 deliveries. In the final over before the fielding restrictions eased, Abhishek creamed Mohammad Saifuddin for four boundaries.
Rishad provided his side some respite by getting Gill and Dube to hole out at long-off. Abhishek, unperturbed as ever, slog-swept Rishad for a six before targeting Saifuddin again in a 16-run 11th over.
Just when the opener seemed to be on course for a third T20I ton, however, Rishad made his presence felt yet again. This time, his agility on the field saw him move sharply to his left at backward point and take aim for Mustafizur to remove the bails at the non-striker’s end. It was a small consolation for Rishad and Bangladesh in the end.
Published – September 25, 2025 12:26 am IST