Dubai: India seal clinical win to reach Asia Cup final
India delivered a commanding performance against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup 2025 semi-final at Dubai on Wednesday night, winning by 41 runs to secure their place in the tournament final. Batting first, India posted 168/6 in 20 overs, anchored by Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 75. Bangladesh, in reply, faltered under pressure and were bundled out for 127 in 19.3 overs.
The victory continued India’s unbeaten streak in the competition and underlined their dominance heading into the title clash.
Abhishek Sharma’s blistering knock sets up India
India’s innings was spearheaded by young opener Abhishek Sharma, who hammered 75 runs in just 39 deliveries, decorated with six boundaries and five sixes. His aggressive intent from the outset put Bangladesh on the back foot, particularly during the powerplay when India raced to 72/0 in six overs.
Shubman Gill provided solid support with a fluent 29, but the middle order struggled. Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Sanju Samson fell cheaply, and India slipped from 96/1 in 10 overs to 141/5 by the 17th. A late cameo from Hardik Pandya (27 off 18) ensured India reached a competitive 168/6, though the total looked slightly below par considering the start.
Kuldeep Yadav and Bumrah dismantle Bangladesh chase
Defending 169, Jasprit Bumrah set the tone by dismissing opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim for just one. Bangladesh never recovered from the early blow, with Kuldeep Yadav spinning a web through the middle order. The left-arm wrist-spinner finished with figures of 3/20, including two wickets in successive deliveries that left Bangladesh reeling.
Varun Chakaravarthy (2/26) and Axar Patel (1/22) kept the pressure tight, while Bumrah’s second spell accounted for Saif Hassan, Bangladesh’s lone fighter who scored a valiant 54. Ultimately, the batting collapse saw Bangladesh fall short by 41 runs.
Bangladesh’s lone resistance
Opener Saif Hassan played a fighting knock, striking a half-century to keep Bangladesh’s hopes alive. However, with little support from the other end, his dismissal effectively ended the chase. Bangladesh skipper Jaker Ali and the middle order faltered under scoreboard pressure, with India’s fielding adding to their woes — highlighted by Suryakumar Yadav’s sharp run-out of Ali.
Road ahead: India eye title clash
With the win, India confirmed their spot in the Asia Cup 2025 final, where they are set to face arch-rivals Pakistan. The result also reinforced India’s depth in both batting and bowling, even as concerns remain over middle-order consistency.
For Bangladesh, the defeat marked another missed opportunity in knockout stages, despite flashes of brilliance from their young players.