Dubai: India defeated Bangladesh by six wickets with 21 balls to spare in their first Group A match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Thursday, thanks to a brilliant bowling performance by Mohammed Shami (5 wickets) followed by a restrained century by opener Shubman Gill (101 not out) adapted to the conditions.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, Bangladesh's Tauhid Hridaya, who was suffering from a muscle strain, hit his first ODI century but the team collapsed for 228 in 49.4 overs in front of Shami's (5-53) bowling.

India lost wickets quickly after a quick start by Rohit Sharma (41 runs) and Gill. But then Gill and Rahul together led the team to victory by scoring 231 runs for four wickets in 46.3 overs.

This is Gill's first century in an ICC tournament. He faced 129 balls for his slow century in which he hit nine fours and two sixes. Along with him, KL Rahul (41 not out, 47 balls, one four, two sixes) made an unbroken partnership of 87 runs and won the match by hitting a six.

Rohit started fast and soon completed 11,000 runs in ODIs. But in the last over of the powerplay, he lifted Taskin Ahmed's ball in the air and gave an easy catch to Rishad Hussain, which ended his innings of seven fours in 36 balls.

Gill and Virat Kohli batted cautiously on a slow pitch on which spinners were getting a lot of help. Kohli was looking in good rhythm but once again fell prey to leg spin. He tried to cut Rishad Hussain's leg break ball to backward point where Soumya Sarkar took an easy catch and ended his innings of 22 runs in 38 balls. In this way India lost the second wicket at 112 runs.

Continuing the excellent rhythm of the series against England, Gill batted slowly and completed his fifty in 69 balls with the help of five fours and a six. This is his slowest half-century.

Shreyas Iyer (15 runs) tried to get back into rhythm by hitting two fours off Mustafizur Rahman after initially avoiding the mistake in taking runs. He again tried to hit a four on Mustafizur's slow off-cutter, but got out. India lost its third wicket at 133 runs in the 28th over.

Axar Patel was sent to number five in the batting order but this strategy did not work, he was caught by Riyadh Hussain and reached the pavilion. India got the fourth blow at 144 runs.

Then Gill and Rahul continued to play cautiously together on the slowing pitch and made a half-century partnership. During this, Rahul's catch was missed by Zakir Ali, who also played a half-century innings after being given a lifeline by Rahul behind the stumps. But if this catch had been taken, it could have been difficult for India.

Hridaya won hearts

Earlier, Hridaya (100, 118 balls, six fours, two sixes) and Zakir Ali (68 runs, 114 balls, four fours) made a brilliant partnership of 154 runs for the sixth wicket and helped Bangladesh come back at a time when the team was struggling after losing five wickets for 35 runs.

Shami took five wickets for 53 runs in 10 overs, which also reduced the concerns related to the absence of injured fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. During this, he also became the fastest Indian bowler to reach 200 ODI wickets in the least number of matches.

Hridaya's century was an example of how to build an innings and also how to keep the run rate right. He faced only 114 balls during his innings. He and Ali showed great restraint under pressure. However, both Bangladeshi batsmen benefited from the weakness of the Indian fielders.

Rohit Sharma spoiled Akshar Patel's hat-trick

Ali got a reprieve on the very first ball when he had not even opened his account, which also robbed left-arm spinner Akshar Patel (2 wickets for 43 runs) of the chance of a hat-trick. Akshar had earlier dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim and Tanjid Hasan on consecutive balls.

Hridaya also got luck when he was on 23 runs and Hardik Pandya missed his catch at mid-off on Kuldeep Yadav's ball. Hridaya got a second reprieve when KL Rahul missed a stumping opportunity.

Due to the carelessness of the Indian fielders, Bangladesh batsmen got a chance to take one or two consecutive runs, which reduced the pressure on them. But despite these fielding shortcomings, the Indian bowlers, especially Shami, used the new ball well.

Shami, who recently performed averagely in the T20 and ODI series against England at home, did not disappoint on the big stage and took the wicket of opener Soumya Sarkar in the very first over. He did not take much time to take his second wicket and dismissed Mehdi Hasan Miraz, whose catch was taken by Shubman Gill standing at slip.

Shami completes fastest 200 wickets

This fast bowler from Bengal then returned by ending the century partnership between Hriday and Ali. As soon as he dismissed Ali, he became the Indian bowler to take 200 wickets in the least number of matches.

34-year-old Shami has become the highest wicket-taker for India in the International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament. In this way, he left behind former fast bowler Zaheer Khan (59).

Harshit Rana, who was preferred over left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, also supported his senior partner well and took three wickets for 31 runs.