Dubai, UAE — India stormed into the Asia Cup final with a commanding 41-run victory over Bangladesh in their Super Four clash on Wednesday, thanks to Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 75 off 37 balls and Kuldeep Yadav’s brilliant spell of 3-18 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Opting to field first, Bangladesh paid the price as Sharma smashed five sixes in his fourth T20 half-century, powering India to 168-6 in 20 overs. Hardik Pandya’s 38 off 29 balls provided crucial stability after a mid-innings slump, helping India post a competitive score on a sluggish surface.
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Bangladesh’s chase hinged on opener Saif Hassan, who struck 69 off 51 balls for his fourth T20 half-century. However, with little support from the rest of the batting order and a collapse against India’s spinners, they were bowled out for 127. Kuldeep, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Tilak Varma collectively stifled the innings, while Jasprit Bumrah made the early breakthrough.
India’s fielding, however, remained a concern, with five dropped catches giving Bangladesh fleeting hope. Yet Sharma’s explosive start and disciplined spin bowling ensured India booked their place in the final for only the second time in Asia Cup T20 history, after winning the title against Bangladesh in 2016.
Bangladesh will now face Pakistan on Thursday in a virtual semifinal, with the winner set to join India in Sunday’s final. Sri Lanka, the defending champions, were eliminated following India’s win.
Abhishek Sharma shine again
India’s openers began cautiously but quickly shifted gears, smashing 21 runs in the fourth over as Sharma and Gill piled on 77 runs from just 38 deliveries for the first wicket.
The powerplay ended with India cruising at 72 without loss, with Gill contributing a brisk 29 off 19 balls, including two sixes, before falling in the seventh over to Rishad Hossain at long-off.
Hossain struck again soon after, removing promoted batter Shivam Dube for just two, leaving India at 83-2 in the ninth over.
Sharma, however, was unstoppable. Mixing power with timing, he dispatched both spinners and pacers with ease, racing to his second consecutive half-century in just 25 balls.
India crossed the 100-run mark shortly after the halfway stage, with Sharma continuing to dominate. He added 29 runs off 18 balls for the third wicket, though captain Suryakumar Yadav managed only four before departing.
Sharma added a quick-fire 25 off 12 deliveries, but the momentum shifted in the 12th over when Hossain produced a sharp stop and ran him out, leaving the opener stranded mid-pitch. Soon after, skipper Suryakumar Yadav (5) fell cheaply, and India suddenly slipped to 114-4.
Hardik Pandya then steadied the innings, stitching a crucial stand with the lower order. His 38 off 29 balls, laced with four boundaries and a six, guided India beyond 150 in the 18th over. He shared a 39-run partnership with Axar Patel, who remained unbeaten on 10.
However, India couldn’t fully capitalize in the death overs, managing just four runs in the final over and finishing below their target of 180, ending at 168-6.
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