"Definitely one of my most satisfying innings I have played. When me and Rohit bhai went out there we decided not cutting the ball so I started using my feet to the fast bowlers as well. When Virat bhai came we were talking about front foot shots being difficult so we planned to play more off the back foot. The first one gave me a lot of confidence and the second one helped me get closer to my hundred so both are satisfying," said Shubman Gill after the match.

It could have been a tense chase for India, had Bangladesh got the wicket of Shubman Gill, but the opener dug in his heels and scored a superb century. Gill carried on his bat at the score of 101 to make sure India win the game comfortably.

KL Rahul hits a six over the backward square leg and India win the game by 6 wickets against Bangladesh. They chase down the target of 229 runs in 46.3 overs. It has been a slow chase but India won't mind it as they get 2 crucial points at the start of their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign. 

IND 231/4 (46.3)

Shubman Gill races to his 8th ODI century in 125 balls. What a fine knock this is from the India opener! Due to his terrific ODI form, he was kept in the squad for Champions Trophy and he is repaying the trust here. India are only 7 runs away from victory.

India need 19 runs in 36 balls. Mere formality remains in this game but what all the Indian fans will be waiting is to see Shubman Gill race to the three-figure mark. He needs only 12 to get there. It has been such a mature knock from Gill and he would love to finish this game for India.

A single from Shubman Gill's bat and India race to the 200-run mark. India need 29 runs in 45 balls, while Gill needs only 14 of those runs to score his century. What a terrific ODI form the Indian star is having!

IND 200/4 (42.3)

India need 39 runs in 57 balls. Bangladesh need a wicket to make a comeback in the game or this is well over for them. As I type this, Shubman Gill has pulled away the ball for a four. That marks the end of the 41st over and India now need only 34 runs in 54 balls.

36.2 - There was the chance for Bangladesh. After creating a lot of pressure despite having a low total on the board, Bangladesh managed to force KL Rahul to go for a big shot but Jaker has dropped the catch there at the deep mid-wicket. Even India captain Rohit Sharma gave a surprising reaction from the dugout over the drop. 

Three runs came off Taskin Ahmed's 7th over. The duo of KL Rahul and Shubman Gill are finding it hard to hit boundaries so they are trying to take more and more singles and doubles, which is not a bad choice in the given conditions. India need 68 runs in 90 balls.

India need 75 runs more runs to win off the remaining 102 balls. This is still their match to lose from this point, but one could not ignore the fact that Bangladesh only need the wicket of Shubman Gill to put India under pressue. Can they get it? Spin is back with Mehidy Hasan Miraz bowling the 34th over. 

That is a brilliant shot from Shubman Gill for a four. Tanzim Hasan Sakib bowled it with really good pace on it and Gill just opened the face of his bat at the last moment to get the boundary. The third man was wide so a fine shot from Gill served India's cause.

IND 150/4 (31.3)

Axar Patel is gone! Bangladesh have somehow kept this game alive. Rishad Hossain tossed it up and Axar tried to play a powerful slog-sweep on it. He failed to read the googly and ended up hitting the ball high in the air. The bowler himself took the catch. Axar is gone for 8 off 12.

Wow! It a terrific pull shot from Axar Patel and it will must take the pressure off him and India. Tanzim Hasan Sakib bowled him three dot balls before pitching one really shot. Axar pulled it away over the infield for an easy boundary.

Bangladesh spinners have done a really good job to keep India's scoring rate in check. India still need 91 runs in the remaining 126 balls and this pitch is not that easy to score runs. Another couple of wickets and we could have a tight game here.

Shreyas Iyer is gone for 15 runs off 17 balls. India are three down now. It was slower ball from Mustafizur Rahman and Iyer mistimed his shot on it. Bangladesh have done a decent recovery but India need only 96 runs to win from this point. Axar Patel comes in at number 5.

IND 133/3 (27.4)

Shubman Gill races to his half-century in 69 balls. It has come too slow and sees Gill achieve an unwanted record. This is the slowest ODI fifty by the player in his career. However, Gill would not mind it as the asking rate is just over 4 for India in this paltry chase of 229.

Shreyas Iyer is really lucky there. It was a good delivery outside off stump from Mustafizur as he even produced an outside edge from Iyer's bat, but to the India batter's good luck, the ball fell right into the gap between wicketkeeper and slip to, and ran away for a four.

That is the end of Virat Kohl's struggle. He has played a cut shot right into the hands of Soumya Sarkar at backward point. Kohli departs for 22 runs off 38 balls. Rishad Hossain get the prized wicket. Shreyas Iyer walks in to join Shubman Gill in the middle.

There is the first boundary for Virat Kohli in 35 balls of his innings. A short ball from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Kohli hit it away past the short fine leg fielder for a four. He now moves to 22 with that shot. 

A couple of runs from Virat Kohli's bat and India cross the 100-run mark with it. They need 128 runs more to win at 4.27 runs per over. This seems like an easy chase for India unless they themselves decide to spice it up.

Runs keep coming for India. Their scoring rate is 5.35 which must not be a point of concern as the asking rate is just over 4. Shubman Gill is close to his half-century, while Virat Kohli is also looking in control. 

Shubman Gill dances down the track and slams it over the infield for a four. Tanzim Hasan Sakib bowled it around good length but Gill adjusted well to hit a four. He is looking in great touch tonight. 

Virat Kohli is finally off the mark on the 10th ball of his innings. Some good field placement and disciplined bowling from Bangladesh had kept the India star searching for his first runs. He gets it with a single at long-on. 

Here is the first breakthrough for Bangladesh. Rohit Sharma is gone and Taskin Ahmed could not control his reaction. Rohit is gone for 41 off 36 balls. There comes India star Virat Kohli at the crease. This is a very good opportunity for him to play an impactful knock as there is no pressure of asking rate.

Stand and deliver stuff from Shubman Gill for a six! Tanzim Hasan Sakib bowled a short ball with not any troubling pace on it and Gill smashed it away for a biggie over the deep mid-wicket. It went to 98 metres. A wide ball follows it. And on the next ball, Gill dances down the track to hit a four through the extra cover region.

Rohit Sharma is toying with the Bangladesh bowlers and the fielding. This time he hit a shot through the backward point for a four. 10 runs came off the over from Mustafizur Rahman. A change in bowling as Tanzim Hasan Sakib will bowl the 9th over.

Wow! That is a powerful hit from Rohit Sharma through sweeper cover. It was a back of a length ball from Mustafizur Rahman and Rohit smashed it away for the boundary. Such good was the sound of the ball meeting the bat that even if there was a fielder in the deep, he could have hardly had a chance.

Easy pickings for Shubman Gill. It was a fuller ball bowled down the leg side and Gill comfortably hit it into the gap between the mid-on and mid-wicket fielders for a four. Not a good delivery this is from Taskin Ahmed. Bangladesh pacers need to be improve a lot in their line and length if they wish to challenge India while defending this a total of 228.   

This is a shot from Rohit Sharma stamping his authority. It was a short ball with some really good bounce on it and Rohit smashed it over the extra cover for a four. Good anticipation from the India captain as he danced down the track and slams the Mustafizur Rahman delivery for another four through the long-off region.

IND 31/0 (5.3)

Rohit Sharma reached the milestone of 11000 ODI runs. He achieved the feat in his 261st innings. He surpassed Sachin Tendulkar (276 innings) en route to the landmark. Only Virat Kohli is ahead of Rohit by achieving the feat in record 222nd innings.

Poor line from Mustafizur Rahman and he gets the punishment for it. With the fine leg inside the ring, he bowled it on the pads of Rohit Sharma. the India skipper flicked it towards the long leg region for the boundary.

IND 15/0 (3.1)

That is a beautiful shot from Shubman Gill. He danced down the track and played a lofted drive on the ball of Taskin Ahmed. The ball went over the mid-off for a four. A dot ball follows it. That is the end of the over. Five runs came off it.

IND 11/0 (3)

Taskin Ahmed conceded five runs in the first over and Mustafizur Rahman followed it up with a one-run over. The left-arm pacer was really impressive in his opening over as he squared up Rohit Sharma for a couple of times. There was even a should for LBW but the ball was pitching well outside the leg stump.

Rohit Sharma got an inside edge on the very first delivery and he was lucky that the ball didn't hit the stumps. The players stole a single meanwhile.

Taskin Ahmed has the new ball in hand. Rohit Sharma takes the strike, Shubman Gill is at the other end. Here we go...

Here's a list of records broken by Mohammed Shami today:

- Fastest bowler to reach 200 ODI wickets in terms of balls bowled - 5126 balls

- First India bowler to take 60 or more wickets in ICC events (previous best: Zaheer Khan - 59)

Harshit Rana claims the wicket of Towhid Hridoy and Bangladesh are all out for 228 runs. Mohammed Shami takes the catch and concludes the innings of Bangladesh. Hridoy is out for 100 off 118 balls. India have been given a target of 229 runs to win their campaign opener in Dubai.

Mohammed Shami has become the first-ever Indian bowler to claim 60 wickets in ICC ODI tournaments. He surpassed Zaheer Khan, who had scalped 59 wickets, to reach the milestone.

Mohammed Shami gets the wicket of Taskin Ahmed to complete his five-wicket haul in the game. Terrific bowling effort from the right-arm pacer. He has scripted multiple records in this game and now makes it further memorable with this fifer. 

He gets there!!! Towhid Hridoy has reached the three-figure mark in 114 balls. This is his maiden ODI century and what a time to score it! It has come against one of the best teams in the world - India. The right-handed batter not only bailed Bangladesh out of trouble with this superb knock but has also given them a chance to fight. He has himself been struggling with the heat out there but continues the knock for his team. 

That is a top shot from Towhid Hridoy. Not much bad with the delivery, but the shot was strong enough to see the ball race away for a four. Shami bowled wide to Hridoy and the batter slammed it through the gap between cover and mid-off.

Mohammed Shami strikes again and Bangladesh are in trouble as they still have 22 balls left in this innings, but they are eight down with set batter Towhid Hridoy also stuggling. Coming to the dismissal, Tanzim Hasan Sakib got out after getting an inside edge onto the stumps.

Big wicket for Harshit Rana as Rishad Hossain was looking really dangerous. It was a short ball outside off stump from Harshit and Rishad wanted to hit it over the short third man but failed to do it as he was caught out on the edge of the circle.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib b Shami 0(4)

4,6,6 - Rishad Hossain slammed Axar Patel effortlessly in the over that fetched Bangladesh a total of 20 runs. The side is back in the game and looks well set to cross the 250-run mark, which will give them something to fight on this track.

Towhid Hridoy is facing some discomfort. He is there for a long time now and the scorching heat seems to be taking a toll on him. The Bangladesh batters are also having some drinks by the time the physio is checking on Towhid. Okay, they are good to resume now. 

LBW appeal by Kuldeep, Rishad the batter in question. Rohit Sharma has gone for a review, after the umpire gave not out.

And it has pitched outside leg. Rishad survives.

BAN 191/6 (43.3)

Towhid Hridoy will be hoping to get to his century quickly here. Bangladesh have seven overs to hit now, 250 is within reach. Rishad Hossain has joined him in the middle, and he can whack a few as well.

BAN 190/6 (43.2)

Mohammed Shami becomes the fastest Indian bowler to reach 200 ODI wickets! 

In terms of matches: 104 (second-fastest)

In terms of balls: FASTEST! First bowler to do so in less than 5,200 balls

The partnership is broken! Jaker tries to go big, mistimes it, and finds the fielder. 200th ODI wicket for Mohammed Shami! A great rescue knock by Jaker comes to an end, and he is one of the reasons why Bangladesh can have a respectable total to defend today.

Jaker Ali - OUT - c Kohli b Shami - 68(114)

BAN 189/6 (42.4)

Superb shot. Runs flowing for Bangladesh now. 

Partnership up to 153 - Highest ODI partnership for Bangladesh vs India.

Take nothing away from Jaker and Towhid, but this match is a worrying sign for the Indian bowling in the middle overs, in Dubai conditions. More than 33 overs without a wicket is a big alarm that India must address.

Had Rohit held onto Jaker Ali, maybe this problem wouldn't have been seen.

BAN 183/5 (42)

Towhid Hridoy is up to 78 now. A century is well within sight for him. 

BAN 181/5 (41.3)

Second boundary of the over. This time it's Towhid Hridoy who goes after Shami. Another short-pitched delivery, and well hit through the mid-wicket region.

BAN 176/5 (41)

Short delivery from Mohammed Shami, and Jaker pulls it away towards the deep square leg fence. Well-timed. Axar tries to stop it with his foot, but cannot.

BAN 169/5 (40.1)

40 overs done! Bangladesh have somehow survived till now, and survived unscathed since that big sitter by Rohit Sharma was dropped. 31.3 overs-long, this partnership. Towhid 70, Jaker 60.

What total can Bangladesh get from here? 250 would be massive.

BAN 165/5 (40)

Can we see one of these two hit a century today? Maybe both? Towhid is already up to 69, and Jaker is well set on 58. Hardik Pandya is bowling the 40th over.

BAN 163/5 (39.3)

Towhid Hridoy goes big again! Another six. Slogs, times it brilliantly, goes over the mid-wicket boundary. Huge hit.

11 comes off the over, and Bangladesh are starting to accelerate now.

BAN 162/5 (39)

Both Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav have gone wicketless today. They've kept things very tight, for the most part, but the big wicket just has not come.

Jadeja into his 9th over now.

BAN 152/5 (38.1)

150 up for Bangladesh! Partnership now over 100! Excellent stuff by Towhid and Jaker, and Bangladesh can at least post a fighting total today.

BAN 150/5 (37.3)

Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy slam half-centuries! Top stuff by both Bangladesh batters, and the rescue act continues. India have gone wicketless now for 30 overs. Big SIX now from Towhid.

BAN 149/5 (37.2)

Jaker on 47. Towhid on 46. Who reaches fifty first?

BAN 128/5 (34)

25 overs. 150 balls. No wickets for Team India, since Rohit's dropped sitter.

Next ball? Jaker sweeps, picks up his third boundary. Up to 47 now.

BAN 128/5 (33.4)

Jaker misses and KL Rahul swiftly dislodges the bails. We're going up to the third umpire to have a check.

And it's NOT OUT. Jaker brought his foot back, and grounded, in time.

BAN 124/5 (33.2)

Towhid and Jaker have hit only two boundaries each. A lot of dot balls, a lot of singles. But consistently holding ground, and making sure Bangladesh have something to defend in the end.

BAN  124/5 (33.1)

Axar Patel completes his 8th over. Towhid on 45, Jaker on 43. Bangladesh are doing a terrific job of taking their innings deep here.

BAN 123/5 (33)

Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali are both in the 40s now, heading towards half-centuries. This has turning into a tremendous rescue act.

BAN 119/5 (32)

Towhid and Jaker have done a phenomenal job. Bangladesh were 35/5 after 8.3 overs, when Rohit Sharma dropped the sitter and denied Axar Patel a hattrick. Since then, India have not been able to pick up a single wicket. It has been more than 22 overs.

BAN 112/5 (30.3 overs)

Brilliant straight drive. Full delivery, Jaker times it really well. 8 off the over.

BAN 111/5 (30)

Now Rohit Sharma going for pace from both ends. Harshit Rana comes back in. Bangladesh's run rate is under 4, so the sense of urgency in the Indian camp for a wicket is not that high yet.

But Jaker and Towhid have done a superb job.

BAN 106/5 (29.3)

Towhid and Jaker have now batted 20 overs, without India being able to strike. This is a big revival, given the state they were in at one point.

BAN 103/5 (29)

100 up for Bangladesh in the 29th over. Great effort by Towhid and Jaker to rescue them from 35/5 to this total.

BAN 100/5 (28.1) 

Kuldeep Yadav to bowl his fifth over on the trot. 0-17 so far, can he get a wicket?

BAN 98/5 (27.1)

Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy continue to navigate things cautiously. Only 3 runs off Shami's return over.

Will we see Harshit or Hardik now?

BAN 98/5 (27)

Mohammed Shami has been brought back into the attack. Two wickets in his first spell, can he break this partnership?

BAN 95/5 (26.1)

25 overs done. Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy taking Bangladesh close to 100 here. They've navigated the spinners cautiously, but well enough, and have held ground for over 15 overs.

BAN 92/5 (25)

Indian spinners are doing a good job of keeping things tight. Bangladesh batters are not getting much scope to free their arms here. But will Rohit introduce some pace to try and get a breakthrough?

BAN 86/5 (23)

A big achievement for Bangladesh given the context of the match. 50-run partnership between Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy. It has come off 88 balls.

BAN 85/5 (22.2)

A good return by Kuldeep. Just 1 run off his second over. The partnership continues to be slow but steady, and Bangladesh are at least getting towards something here.

BAN 84/5 (22)

Put down, again! Jaker Ali gets no timing, it was towards Hardik Pandya at mid-off, but the all-rounder fails to grab it properly. Second lifeline for Jaker, after Rohit Sharma's dropped catch.

Could these mistakes come back to bite India?

BAN 79/5 (20)

Kuldeep Yadav bowls a no-ball, and Towhid Hridoy makes him pay on the free-hit. Finds the gap at mid-wicket, picks up a boundary.

BAN 76/5 (19.2)

The chinaman enters the action to bowl the 20th over. Finger spin to wrist spin, then. Can he break this partnership?

BAN 71/5 (19.1)

Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy have held ground for more than 10 overs now. Much-needed sense of stability after the chaos of the first 10 overs. 

BAN 70/5 (19)

Jaker tries to paddle scoop Ravindra Jadeja, gets the execution all wrong. The ball ricochets off towards the other side, and is lucky to not find a fielder. Just 1 run off Jadeja's over.

BAN 66/5 (18)

Axar Patel now picks up a maiden over. 5-1-13-2. That's how his figures read. Sensational stuff from the left-arm spinner.

BAN 65/5 (17)

Ravindra Jadeja continues with the ball. Can Bangladesh build on this partnership? Or can India keep the wickets flowing?

BAN 63/5 (15.2)

Axar Patel's first slightly expensive over of the day. 7 off it. Jaker picked up a boundary there, well placed through third man. 15 overs up.

BAN 62/5 (15)

Jaker Ali and Towhid Hridoy are both into the double digits now. Slow, but steady. Bangladesh haven't lost a wicket in more than 6 overs now. 

BAN 57/5 (14.4)

Hardik Pandya taken off the bowling attack after 2 overs. We'll now have left-arm spinners in tandem. Ravindra Jadeja into the attack.

3 overs, 2 wickets, 5 runs conceded. Absolutely incredible stuff from Axar Patel so far.

BAN 50/5 (13)

Well-timed! Towhid Hridoy cuts hard, picks up 4! Places it well, between gully and point. 

BAN 49/5 (12)

That over by Axar Patel was pure drama. Two wickets in two balls, carbon copy dismissals. Five fielders then set for the hattrick ball, but the Indian captain drops the chance. India wouldn't mind it too much, they're in the driving seat here.

BAN 44/5 (11.3)

10 overs done. Hardik Pandya closes out the powerplay. Wow. India wouldn't have imagined such a start in their wildest dreams. Utter utter domination. 

BAN 39/5 (10)

Rohit Sharma was absolutely livid on himself after that dropped chance. Banged the ground in anger. It was a sitter, make no mistake, and he put his hand up as well to apologize to Axar Patel. 

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! Rohit Sharma had an easy, easy catch but drops it at slip! Axar Patel doesn't get his hattrick. Rohit bangs the ground in fury, and then apologizes to Axar. 

BAN 35/5 (8.4)

Axar Patel is on a hattrick! Mushfiqur Rahim duck! Carbon copy, just reverse. Caught by KL Rahul once again. 

Mushfiqur Rahim - OUT - c Rahul b Axar - 0(1)

BAN 35/5 (8.3)

Axar strikes, second ball! Tanzid departs. KL Rahul takes a superb catch, and celebrated straight away. Umpire Paul Reiffel took a good few seconds to raise his finger, but it ultimately went up. Bangladesh 4-down!

Tanzid Hasan - OUT - c Rahul b Axar - 25(25)

BAN 35/4 (8.2)

 Spin for the first time today. Axar Patel brought into the attack, replacing Mohammed Shami.

BAN 35/3 (8.1)

Fourth boundary for Tanzid Hasan. Comes down the track, this time against Harshit Rana. Clears mid-off, and the ball trickles over to the boundary rope.

BAN 34/3 (7.4)

Big appeal from Team India for a caught behind, but umpire says no. Replays show the ball brushed off the pad, without any edge. Towhid Hridoy the batter in question.

BAN 27/3 (7.1)

Mohammed Shami again! Beautiful teases the batter into playing a drive, Mehidy mistimes it and a crisp catch by Shubman Gill at slip. Mohammed Shami now just one strike away from 200 ODI wickets now.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz - OUT - c Gill b Shami - 5(10)

BAN 26/3 (6.3)

Harshit Rana has started superbly. A wicket, and just 7 runs given away in his three overs so far. Bangladesh have found some success against Shami, but no boundaries off Harshit yet.

BAN 26/2 (6)

Mehidy Hasan Miraz, sweet timing! Width offered by Shami, glorious drive through the covers. Second boundary of the over. All boundaries so far have come against Shami. The Bangladesh batters seem to be going after him here.

BAN 22/2 (5)

Tanzid Hasan is taking the risks against Mohammed Shami here. Third boundary for the left-hander. Clears the in-field, takes the aerial route. Good shot.

BAN 17/2 (4.2)

Mixup between the Bangladesh batters! Tanzid Hasan was halfway down the pitch, Mehidy sent him back. Shreyas Iyer with the throw from short square leg, and a direct hit would've sent Tanzid packing.

IND 13/2 (4)

Tanzid trying to go big again, takes a big inside edge and so nearly dragged it back onto his stumps. A big deflection of his heel saves Tanzid.

BAN 11/2 (3.2)

Tanzid Hasan finally getting the scoreboard rolling for Bangladesh! First goes aerial, and then comes down the track and drives it gloriously through the covers.

BAN 11/2 (3)

Team India could've asked for nothing more. Straight out of the blocks, and Bangladesh are on the back foot. Two crucial top order batters back in the hut.

BAN 2/2 (2)

Harshit strikes! Shanto goes for a duck! Bangladesh are in absolute tatters here. Captain Shanto swings, and hits it straight to Kohli at point. Terrific start for Team India.

Najmul Hossain Shanto - OUT - c Kohli b Harshit - 0(2)

BAN 2/2 (1.4)

Harshit Rana has been preferred over Hardik Pandya here, to take the new ball. 

Mohammed Shami STRIKES! What a start for Team India. Soumya Sarkar has to go back for a duck. Great over by Shami, he has the ball swinging in. Sarkar goes for a needless drive, and an easy catch behind for KL Rahul.

Soumya Sarkar - OUT - c Rahul b Shami - 0(5)

BAN 1/1 (1)

 Bangladesh are off the mark with an inside edge on the first ball.

BAN 1/0 (0.1)

Tanzid Hasan and Soumya Sarkar to open the batting for Bangladesh. Rohit Sharma hands the ball to Mohammed Shami, for the opening over.

Tanzid Hasan and Soumya Sarkar to open the batting for Bangladesh. Rohit Sharma hands the ball to Mohammed Shami, for the opening over.

Here come the players on to the field of play. Bangladesh and India, two sides who clashed in the 2017 Champions Trophy semi-final, go head-to-head in the group stage here.

India are going with three frontline spin options, as expected: Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel will hope to tighten the screws, while Kuldeep provides the wrist spin option as well.

It is a strategy that has worked wonders for India in the lead up to the Champions Trophy. Will Bangladesh be good enough to handle the pressure?

Mohammed Shami will certainly bowl the first over, but will we see Harshit Rana take the new ball or Hardik Pandya? With Harshit excelling in the middle overs, we could see Hardik being given that responsibility.

Choosing the best set of pacers without Bumrah would've always been a difficult task, but India have given their vote of confidence to Shami and Harshit Rana, over Arshdeep!

Bangladesh's XI vs India:

Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.

India's XI vs Bangladesh:

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami.

No Arshdeep Singh! Harshit Rana and Mohammed Shami will be India's frontline pacers for today. Varun Chakaravarthy also misses out, with Ravindra Jadeja entering the XI.

Najmul Hossain Shanto has won the toss, and opted to bat against India! 

We are just 5 minutes away from toss time at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Rohit Sharma will be leading Team India, while Najmul Hossain Shanto leads Bangladesh.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will undeniably hold the key to India's success. The duo showed glimpses of their old form in the England series - Virat hit a crisp fifty, Rohit smashed a blazing ton - but can they carry it forward?

If the recent form is the yardstick then ‘mystery spinner’ Varun Chakravarthy should get the nod, but Kuldeep showed his readiness while outwitting some reputed batters in the nets here on Tuesday. But India can take consolation from the fact that Bangladesh are going through turmoil of their own, weakened by the absence of stars like Shakib Al Hasan.

Other than Arshdeep, India is likely to go with three spinners with Hardik Pandya as the fast bowling all-rounder. But herein too, India will have to ponder over who is the third spinner behind primary choices Ravindra Jadeja and Axar. They have a tough selection to make between left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy.

India have to choose between Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana as the new-ball partner of lead pacer Mohammed Shami, who will have to lift his game by a few notches here. Rana might have been impressive so far in his outings, and he has the ability to hustle the batters with sheer pace and bounce even on the most docile of pitches. But, at this moment, Arshdeep is the frontrunner to share the newball duties because of the left-arm angle and the variety he possesses in his bowling.

Although India are playing a strong brand of 50-over cricket of late, they have some selection riddles to solve before they face Bangladesh. It starts with KL Rahul’s batting position. Will he bat at No. 5, his most productive slot, or at No. 6 with Axar Patel coming one place above him? The wicketkeeper batter had batted at No. 6 in the first two matches against England before going back to No. 5 in the final one-dayer.

Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand, their opponents in Group A, are far more motivated than the seemingly disinterested England whom they faced recently, and even one defeat can change the whole league stage equation quite dramatically.

Skipper Rohit Sharma made a century a few days back against England and Virat Kohli a fifty, while Gautam Gambhir masterminded the dominant 4-1 and 3-0 victories in T20Is and ODIs respectively. Shubman Gill was exceptional while emerging as the player of the series, cracking two fifties and a hundred in three ODIs against England. But the challenge India face in the Champions Trophy is vastly different from a rather cosy home series.

A turbulent recent cricketing past has made a resonant effort mandatory for India in the Champions Trophy, and their opening match against a tricky Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday will be the first point in assuaging a set of existential questions surrounding this team. They are vexing even for a pre-tournament favourite like India. 

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Champions Trophy 2025 match between India and Bangladesh, straight from Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Stay tuned for all the live updates.