Mumbai: In a display of batting bravado and spin sorcery, India stormed into the Asia Cup 2025 final for the 12th time, demolishing Bangladesh by 41 runs in a Super 4 thriller at the Dubai International Stadium.
Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 75 off 37 balls — laced with six fours and five sixes —. propelled India to 168/6, while Kuldeep Yadav’s mesmerising 3/18 dismantled the chase, bundling Bangladesh out for 127 in 19.3 overs.
On a tricky pitch offering turn, Abhishek’s audacious fifty in just 25 balls rescued India after Shubman Gill’s promising 29 laid the foundation with a 77-run opening stand. But the middle order wobbled: Shivam Dube (2), Suryakumar Yadav (5), Tilak Varma (5), and Axar Patel (10) mustered a boundary-less 22 off 36 balls, testing the bowlers’ resolve. Yet, Jasprit Bumrah struck early, claiming Tanzid Hasan Tamim for 1, setting the tone.
The middle overs belonged to the tweakers. Varun Chakaravarthy (2/29) and Kuldeep — back with venom after a quiet outing — strangled Bangladesh, conceding just 47 runs for five wickets in eight overs. Kuldeep’s guile shone: Parvez Hossain Emon (21) holed out to a top-edged sweep, Rishad Hossain miscued a slog-sweep to Tilak Varma, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib was cleaned up by a googly on a hat-trick bid.
Saif Hassan top-scored with 69, but dropped chances — two by Abhishek — couldn’t stem the tide.
India’s eighth title quest — triumphs in 1984, 1988, 1990-91, 1995, 2010, 2016, 2018, and 2023 — now awaits the Pakistan-Sri Lanka winner on September 28. With a dead rubber against Sri Lanka on September 26, Suryakumar Yadav’s men eye a flawless run-up.
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