India crush Bangladesh to storm into Asia Cup 2025 final

Asked to bat first, India were powered by a blistering knock from Abhishek Sharma, who smashed 75 off just 37 balls, including six fours and five sixes.

His fearless hitting in the Powerplay set the tone, with India racing to 72/0 in six overs. Though wickets fell in the middle overs, Hardik Pandya’s 38 from 29 balls ensured India finished on a competitive 168/6.

Bangladesh’s chase never quite got going despite a fighting 69 off 51 balls from Saif Hassan, who stood tall amid regular fall of wickets.

Kuldeep Yadav was the standout with the ball, returning 3/18, while Jasprit Bumrah (2/18) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/29) provided excellent support.

India’s bowlers applied constant pressure, leading to Bangladesh being bundled out for 127 in 19.3 overs.

Abhishek Sharma, Player of the Match, says, "My job is to contribute to the team, and I feel I did that today. I have said before that I like to go with the flow — if the ball is in my zone, I will back myself to hit it even if it is the first delivery. My aim is always to make the most of the powerplay.

"In some matches, I have tried to attack from the very first ball, but tonight was different. They had bowlers looking for early wickets with the new ball, and since it was a fresh pitch, I wanted to assess conditions first. Shubman and I discussed it and decided to take a few deliveries before putting pressure back on them."

"I always try to read the field and choose my shots accordingly. There are a few strokes I trust completely, but I am not someone who swings at everything from the start. My focus is on playing smart cricket based on the field and the situation," he added.

(With inputs from BCCI website)