India 168-6 (Abhishek 75, Hardik 38; Rishad 2-27) v Bangladesh, Dubai
For an hour it felt like the same India side that had steam-rolled Pakistan two nights earlier. By the interval, though, Bangladesh were the happier team, having limited India to 168 for 6 despite a blistering 37-ball 75 from Abhishek Sharma.
“Once you get on a roll the boundaries look shorter, but I should have batted deeper,” Abhishek admitted on the TV feed, still nursing frustration at a run-out that stalled India’s charge.
The left-hander was irresistible between the fourth and 11th overs, taking 95 runs off that eight-over block and climbing to joint-seventh on India’s all-time T20I six-hitters’ list – 58 maximums in just 21 innings, level with Suresh Raina, who required 66 innings for the same haul.
Early movement, late squeeze
Bangladesh’s four changes freshened the attack and Tanzim Hasan Sakib’s opening burst, all late swing and heavy lengths, should have brought Abhishek’s dismissal on 7. Stand-in keeper-captain Jaker Ali spilled a regulation edge and could only watch the left-hander flog five sixes thereafter.
At 112 for 2 at the start of the 12th over, India looked set for 190-plus. Rishad Hossain then produced the moment of the innings: a full-length dive to intercept Suryakumar Yadav’s dab, a rapid reload and a direct hit that caught Abhishek short. “That run-out changed the mood,” Rishad said later. “Suddenly we felt 170 was possible.”
The last nine overs cost India a mere 56 runs. Hardik Pandya’s 38 from 29 balls gave the scorecard some late weight, yet he, too, fell to the final ball trying to find a fifth boundary. “Another 15 runs would’ve been handy,” Hardik conceded. “But the surface isn’t getting easier and we’ve got bowlers who can exploit that.”
Shuffled order, mixed returns
With qualification already secure, India toyed with the batting order. Shivam Dube came in at three, Hardik at four, Tilak Varma at five, and Axar Patel at six, leaving Sanju Samson unused. None of those promotions truly prospered, adding to the sense that the top-order momentum had been squandered.
Conditions suggest chaseable target
Dew tends to settle in Dubai’s second innings, softening the ball and quickening the outfield. Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha sounded quietly optimistic: “We spoke about holding our nerve once the ball got softer – it was encouraging. If we bat with intent, this is within reach.”
India, for their part, will lean on Jasprit Bumrah’s new-ball craft and Kuldeep Yadav’s middle-overs guile. “It’ll come down to length control,” observed former India quick Zaheer Khan on commentary. “Anything wavering into the slot could vanish.”
Bangladesh require the win to stay alive for Sunday’s final; India want momentum more than points. That balance of needs should make the chase worth staying up for.
