Abhishek’s Performance Led India to Win Against Bangladesh, Asia Cup 2025 Super 4
Dubai, 25 September (Sports Desk)
Series: Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 Match: 16th Match, Super Fours Date: September 24, 2025 Venue: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai Toss: Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field Result: India beat Bangladesh by 41 runs (India qualify for the final; Bangladesh vs Pakistan becomes a virtual semi-final) Player of the Match: Abhishek Sharma (IND) – 75 (37 balls, 7×4, 5×6)
India stormed into the Asia Cup 2025 final with a commanding 41-run victory over Bangladesh in the Super Fours at Dubai, maintaining their unbeaten run in the tournament. Batting first after being inserted, India rode on opener Abhishek Sharma’s explosive half-century to post a competitive 168/6 in 20 overs, despite a mid-innings stutter. Bangladesh, chasing 169, started steadily but were dismantled by India’s spin trio—led by Kuldeep Yadav’s 3/18—as they crumbled to 127 all out in 19.3 overs. Saif Hassan’s gritty 69 (51 balls, 5×6) offered brief resistance, but sloppy fielding (including four drops off him) couldn’t mask Bangladesh’s middle-order collapse. This win eliminates Sri Lanka and sets up a do-or-die clash between Bangladesh and Pakistan for the second final spot on September 25.
India Innings (168/6 in 20 overs)
Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill provided a blistering PowerPlay, adding 61 runs in the first six overs, with Abhishek’s aggressive strokeplay (95 runs scored between overs 3-11) propelling India to a strong position. However, Bangladesh fought back with clever variations and a sharp run-out, restricting the middle order. Hardik Pandya’s quick 38 off 21 steadied the ship, but the innings tailed off with just 73 runs in the 12 overs outside the middle phase. Rishad Hossain (2/27) was Bangladesh’s standout, while Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman chipped in with wickets.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | Run out (Rishad Hossain) | 75 | 37 | 7 | 5 |
| Shubman Gill | c Litton Das b Tanzim Hasan Sakib | 28 | 22 | 3 | 1 |
| Suryakumar Yadav (c) | c Jaker Ali b Rishad Hossain | 12 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Tilak Varma | c Towhid Hridoy b Nasum Ahmed | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Sanju Samson (wk) | b Mustafizur Rahman | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Hardik Pandya | c Saif Hassan b Taskin Ahmed | 38 | 21 | 2 | 3 |
| Shivam Dube | Not out | 20 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| Axar Patel | c Shamim Hossain b Rishad Hossain | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | (lb 2, w 7, nb 1) | 10 | – | – | – |
| Total | 168 (6 wkts, 20 ovs) | 168 | – | – | – |
Fall of Wickets: 61-1 (Gill, 5.6 ov), 95-2 (Abhishek, 9.2 ov), 108-3 (Suryakumar, 11.4 ov), 120-4 (Tilak, 13.2 ov), 128-5 (Samson, 14.3 ov), 150-6 (Pandya, 18.1 ov). Run Rate: 8.40
watch….Asia Cup 2025: India Edges Oman in Thrilling Group A Match
Bangladesh Bowling:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taskin Ahmed | 4 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 8.00 |
| Mustafizur Rahman | 4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 |
| Tanzim Hasan Sakib | 3 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 8.33 |
| Nasum Ahmed | 4 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 8.00 |
| Rishad Hossain | 3 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 9.00 |
| Mahedi Hasan | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 11.00 |
Bangladesh Innings (Target: 169; 127 all out in 19.3 overs)
Bangladesh openers Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan Tamim negotiated the PowerPlay well, reaching 46/1, but Jasprit Bumrah’s swing (2/18) triggered a collapse. The middle order imploded against spin, slipping from 46/1 to 87/5 in the middle overs, with Kuldeep Yadav’s variations (3/18) and Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery (2/29) proving lethal. Saif’s counter-attacking knock, featuring five sixes, kept hopes alive with a 100-run stand threat, but he survived four drops before holing out. India conceded extras but their depth in bowling sealed a clinical defense. Axar Patel (1/15) was economical.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saif Hassan | c Hardik Pandya b Bumrah | 69 | 51 | 4 | 5 |
| Tanzid Hasan Tamim | c Sanju Samson b Bumrah | 15 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| Towhid Hridoy | lbw b Kuldeep Yadav | 8 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Litton Das | c Suryakumar Yadav b Varun Chakravarthy | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Shamim Hossain | b Kuldeep Yadav | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaker Ali (c/wk) | Run out (Suryakumar Yadav) | 12 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Mahedi Hasan | st Sanju Samson b Kuldeep Yadav | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Mohammad Saifuddin | c Tilak Varma b Varun Chakravarthy | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Nasum Ahmed | c Axar Patel b Axar Patel | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Taskin Ahmed | Not out | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mustafizur Rahman | c Tilak Varma b Arshdeep Singh | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | (lb 1, w 2) | 3 | – | – | – |
| Total | 127 (10 wkts, 19.3 ovs) | 127 | – | – | – |
Fall of Wickets: 46-1 (Tanzid, 5.2 ov), 62-2 (Towhid, 8.1 ov), 68-3 (Litton, 9.4 ov), 68-4 (Shamim, 9.6 ov), 87-5 (Jaker, 13.2 ov), 109-6 (Mahedi, 15.4 ov), 120-7 (Saif, 17.1 ov), 127-8 (Saifuddin, 18.3 ov), 127-9 (Nasum, 19.1 ov), 127-10 (Mustafizur, 19.3 ov). Run Rate: 6.54
India Bowling:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah | 4 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 4.50 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 3.3 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 7.14 |
| Axar Patel | 4 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 3.75 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 4 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 4.50 |
| Varun Chakravarthy | 4 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 7.25 |
| Hardik Pandya | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 10.50 |
Key Highlights
- Abhishek’s Fireworks: The 24-year-old’s 75 off 37 balls (SR 202.70) included a brutal assault in the middle overs, setting a platform that Bangladesh couldn’t chase. His knock earned him Player of the Match and continued his tournament form (173 runs in 4 matches at SR 208+).
- Spin Stranglehold: Kuldeep’s 3/18 in his comeback game dismantled Bangladesh’s middle order, inducing false shots with his googly and wrong’un. Varun’s 2/29 added mystery, as Bangladesh managed just 61 runs off spin in 10 overs.
- Saif’s Valiant Effort: Despite four drops (two by Axar, one each by Hardik and Tilak), Saif’s 69 nearly dragged Bangladesh close, sharing a 41-run stand with Jaker Ali. But Bumrah’s pinpoint yorker ended the resistance.
- Fielding Lapses: India dropped four catches—highest in the tournament so far (12 total)—but their bowling depth covered the sloppiness. Suryakumar’s direct-hit run-out of Jaker was a highlight.
- Series Context: India (4 wins from 4) top the Super Fours table and face Sri Lanka in a dead rubber on September 26. Bangladesh (3 wins, 2 losses) must beat Pakistan on September 25 to join India in the final on September 28. Sri Lanka are eliminated.
India’s balanced attack and Abhishek’s emergence signal a strong T20 blueprint ahead of the World Cup, while Bangladesh’s chase exposed their fragility against quality spin on a gripping Dubai pitch.
