What was expected has transpired. Shubman Gill’s Virat Kohli-esque knock on a difficult track in Dubai was fantastic to watch. Had Gill not been there, this match would’ve definitely gone to the wire. A match that started with India dominating the affair ended in the same fashion, with Gill and KL Rahul marching towards a perfect start at the ICC Champions Trophy. Mohammed Shami announced his ICC return with a fantastic five-for, and Gill complemented it tremendously with his maiden century in ICC tournaments.
Hridoy frustrates Indian spinners, Rohit falters
Bangladesh staged a superb recovery to post a decent total after a disastrous start against India. Reduced to 35/5 within the first nine overs, their innings seemed in complete disarray. However, a crucial 154-run partnership between Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali Anik rescued them from collapse.
Hridoy, battling cramps, played a gutsy knock, reaching a superb century off 118 balls, while Jaker provided steady support with a patient 68 off 114 deliveries. The innings exposed India’s diminishing intensity in the field, with key drops—Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and KL Rahul all missing chances at crucial junctures. Rohit denied Axar Patel a hat-trick, who dismissed Tanzid Hasan and Mushfiqur on back-to-back deliveries.
Mohammed Shami was the standout performer with the ball, delivering yet another ICC event masterclass, bagging 5/53 in his 10 overs. Harshit Rana, who surprisingly picked over Arshdeep Singh, also made an impact, claiming 3/31. However, India’s spinners struggled to make inroads, managing just two wickets despite the slowness of the Dubai surface.
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Shubman Gill stars on an unwanted Dubai track
On what looked like a comfortable chase, it wasn’t as smooth. After a steady 65-run opening stand, Rohit Sharma’s aggressive 41 came to an end when Taskin Ahmed finally got his man. However, the real struggle began when Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer found it tough to keep the scoreboard ticking alongside Shubman Gill. Kohli, unable to rotate strike freely, perished after one boundary, while Iyer and Axar Patel failed to capitalize on their starts. India’s middle order looked scratchy, and with KL Rahul getting a major let-off from Jaker Ali, Bangladesh missed their chance to turn the game around.
Ultimately, Shubman Gill’s composed century (101* off 129) held the innings together, and with KL Rahul finishing the job in style, India crossed the line. But the lack of fluency in their batting highlighted just how slow and two-paced the Dubai surface was. With not much assistance for pacers and only some grip for spinners, stroke-making became an ordeal, making the game feel like a grind rather than a thrilling contest.
India vs Pakistan to be boring?
If this Dubai pitch remains unchanged, the upcoming India-Pakistan blockbuster on February 23 could turn into a dull, attritional battle. With minimal help for fast bowlers, the game could be dictated by spinners, making stroke play difficult and keeping the scoring rate in check. Instead of an explosive clash, we might see a low-scoring scrap where batters struggle for momentum—far from the high-octane thrillers fans hope for in an India-Pakistan showdown. The key would be the powerplay overs in Dubai. If the Indian openers get a fast start and pacers find success, it could be a massive advantage for Rohit Sharma’s men.
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