DUBAI — Defending champions India booked their place in the final of the Asia Cup with a hard-fought 21-run victory over a determined Bangladesh side in a Super Four clash at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday. The win was set up by a blistering half-century from opener Abhishek Sharma and sealed by a three-wicket haul from the ever-reliable Kuldeep Yadav.
The result means India remains unbeaten in the tournament and will face either Pakistan or Sri Lanka in the final on Sunday, aiming to retain the title they won in 2022. For Bangladesh, the loss effectively ends their campaign, but not before they pushed the tournament favourites to the limit in a thrilling encounter that went down to the final few overs.
Sharma's Blitz Sets the Tempo
India’s innings was built on the foundation of a spectacular 42-ball 62 from young opener Abhishek Sharma. After being asked to bat first, Sharma took the attack to the Bangladeshi bowlers from the outset, unleashing a flurry of boundaries. His innings, which included five fours and four sixes, provided the crucial momentum that the Indian innings needed on a pitch that offered some assistance to the bowlers.
Sharma found an able partner in the experienced Virat Kohli, and the pair added 85 runs for the second wicket after the early dismissal of captain Rohit Sharma. Kohli, playing the anchor role, scored a composed 44, ensuring there was no collapse after the initial fireworks. Reflecting on his innings after the match, Sharma said, "The plan was simple: to be positive and put the bad balls away. The wicket was good, and we knew a strong start was key."
Bangladesh's Spirited Fightback
Just as India looked set for a total well beyond 180, Bangladesh staged a commendable fightback in the latter half of the innings. The introduction of spin, particularly from Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, applied the brakes on the scoring rate. The Bangladeshi bowlers displayed great discipline, picking up wickets at regular intervals to restrict the flow of runs.
The key moments in the fightback included:
- The dismissal of the dangerous Suryakumar Yadav for a quickfire 22.
- Tight bowling in the death overs from Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed.
- Crucial wickets of Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant, preventing a final onslaught.
Kuldeep's Magic Turns the Tide
In response, Bangladesh started their chase confidently, with openers Litton Das and Mohammad Naim putting on a 50-run partnership. The match seemed evenly poised until the introduction of wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav changed the complexion of the game. Kuldeep, with his variations and sharp turn, ripped through the Bangladeshi middle order, taking three crucial wickets for just 23 runs in his four overs.
His victims included the set Litton Das, the dangerous Shakib Al Hasan, and the in-form Afif Hossain. This spell put India firmly in the driver's seat. Captain Rohit Sharma was full of praise for his bowler, stating, "Kuldeep was the game-changer today. To come in and take wickets in the middle overs on this track was exceptional. He showed his class."
Mahmudullah's Lone Battle
Despite Kuldeep's heroics, Bangladesh refused to surrender. Veteran all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad played a valiant lone hand, scoring an unbeaten 56 off 38 balls. He farmed the strike expertly and kept finding the boundary, ensuring the match went down to the final over. However, the mounting required run rate proved too high, and he ran out of partners as Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar executed their yorkers perfectly at the death.
Mahmudullah's effort was a testament to his experience, but the lack of support from the other end ultimately cost Bangladesh the match. A disappointed Bangladesh captain, Shakib Al Hasan, remarked after the game, "We fought hard, but we lost too many wickets in the middle. Mahmudullah played brilliantly, but cricket is a team game. We fell short by 20 runs."
Looking Ahead to the Final
The victory sets up a mouth-watering finale for India. While their batting, barring Abhishek Sharma, might not have fired on all cylinders, the team will take immense confidence from the way their bowlers defended a par total under pressure. The performance highlighted the team's depth and ability to win from different situations.
Key takeaways for India as they head into the final include:
- The explosive form of Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order.
- The middle-order's need to convert starts into bigger scores.
- The lethal combination of Kuldeep's spin and the pace attack's death bowling.
For Bangladesh, the tournament ends with a sense of what could have been. They showed tremendous fight and skill, pushing both India and Pakistan to the wire in the Super Four stage. Their bowling attack, in particular, has earned plaudits throughout the competition. The experience gained by their younger players in such high-pressure matches will be invaluable as they build towards future ICC events.
In conclusion, India's journey to the final was marked by a display of collective strength and individual brilliance. The team demonstrated why they are the defending champions, overcoming a spirited challenge from Bangladesh. The stage is now set for a blockbuster final in Dubai, where India will look to clinch the Asia Cup title once again, relying on their potent mix of youth and experience to get them over the line.