Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI:Opener Abhishek Sharma and spinner Kuldeep Yadav combined well as India thrashed Bangladesh by 41 runs to storm into the final of the Asia Cup 2025 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 24. With India’s win, Sri Lanka have been knocked out of the continental tournament. Put in to bat first after Bangladesh’s stand-in skipper Jaker Ali won the toss, India posted 168/6 in 20 overs on what looked like a sluggish surface. Abhishek Sharma produced a blazing innings to light up India’s effort, smashing 75 off just 37 balls to give the side a flying start.
The left-hander’s onslaught not only powered India but also took him past his mentor Yuvraj Singh’s tally for the most T20I innings by an Indian with five or more sixes. Abhishek now has six such knocks, behind only Rohit Sharma (13) and Suryakumar Yadav (9). He also set a new Asia Cup record, hitting 17 sixes in the 2025 edition, the most ever in a single tournament across formats. India came out firing in the Power-play. Shubman Gill got going early before Abhishek shifted gears, punishing anything loose. Jaker Ali dropped him once, but Abhishek made Bangladesh pay by racing to 75 in style. The Indian openers blasted 72/0 in the first six overs.
However, Bangladesh clawed their way back after the fielding restrictions. Shubman Gill fell for 29 off 19, with Rishad Hossain providing the breakthrough. India made a surprise move by sending Shivam Dube at No. 3, but he fell for 2. Suryakumar Yadav joined Abhishek, and the pair added 29 off 13 balls before Rishad produced a superb run-out to dismiss Abhishek for 75. That wicket stalled India’s charge. Suryakumar laboured to 5 off 11, Tilak Varma contributed 5, and suddenly India were struggling to rebuild. Hardik Pandya steadied things with a composed 38 off 29 balls in the death overs, while Axar Patel finished unbeaten on 10 off 15. Despite their fiery start, India managed only 70 runs in the final 10 overs. Rishad Hossain was the standout bowler, finishing with 2/27 to go with his decisive run-out, while Tanzim Hasan Sakib took 1/29.
