Dubai, Sep 25 (NationPress) Following an electrifying innings of 75 runs off 39 balls, Abhishek Sharma attributed his success to his preparation and straightforward batting style, leading India to a 41-run victory against Bangladesh, securing a spot in the final of the Men's T20 Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

After Bangladesh's acting captain Jaker Ali won the toss and opted to bowl, India set a target of 168/6 in 20 overs. Abhishek's explosive batting propelled India to 72/0 in the initial six overs, alongside Shubman Gill (29 off 19). Following Gill’s departure, Shivam Dube was sent in at No. 3 but managed only 2 runs.

Abhishek contributed 29 off 13 runs with captain Suryakumar Yadav before being spectacularly run out by Rishad Hossain.

“I have done my part for the team. I always prefer to go with the flow. If the ball is in my hitting zone, I’ll go for it, even if it’s my first ball. I aim to maximize the Power-play for my team,” Abhishek stated after being awarded Player of the Match in India’s victory.

His performance not only bolstered India’s innings but also surpassed his mentor Yuvraj Singh for the most T20I innings with five or more sixes by an Indian. With six such innings, he trails only Rohit Sharma (13) and Suryakumar (9). Additionally, he set a new Asia Cup record with 17 sixes in the 2025 tournament, the highest ever in a single tournament across all formats.

He explained how he and Shubman Gill strategized their early innings approach. “In some previous matches, I aimed to hit hard from the first ball, but tonight we faced bowlers looking to secure early wickets with the new ball. Being on a new wicket, I wanted to gauge the conditions first. Shubman and I discussed taking our time before attacking,” he elaborated.

Abhishek emphasized the significance of practice in refining his skills. “I always aim to align my shots with the field placements. I’m not the type to go all out from the very first ball. I play shots as per the field and had a plan to work hard if I wanted to adopt this style of cricket,” he explained.

India lost momentum after Abhishek's exit, with Suryakumar scoring only 5 off 11, Tilak Varma contributing just 5, and the innings losing pace. Hardik Pandya managed 38 off 29 in the closing overs, while Axar Patel added 10 not out from 15 balls to help India reach 168. Rishad Hossain (2-27) and Tanzim Hasan Sakib (1-29) bowled effectively to restrict India.

India's captain Suryakumar Yadav mentioned the team's desire to test themselves by batting first. “We hadn’t batted first in this tournament, especially in such an important match. It was crucial to set a target in the Super 4s. Our previous game here on the 14th showed that the pitch slowed down in the second innings, and that’s what happened today without any dew,” he remarked.

In pursuit of 169, Bangladesh relied on opener Saif Hassan, who scored 69 off 51 balls but was dropped thrice—once by Axar at 40, again by Shivam Dube at 65, and finally by Sanju Samson at 66. He formed a 42-run partnership with Parvez Hossain Emon (21 off 19), but aside from the openers, no other batsman reached double figures. Kuldeep Yadav was outstanding with figures of 3-18, Varun Chakravarthy took 2-29, and Bumrah made a strong comeback with 2-18. Axar contributed with 1-37, while Tilak Varma bowled the final over, dismissing Mustafizur Rahman to conclude Bangladesh’s innings at 127.

Bangladesh's captain Jaker Ali praised his bowlers. “It’s a bit surprising, but all credit goes to the boys; they adapted well after 10 overs and bowled exceptionally. We can take many positives from this match. We have another game tomorrow, and we need to remember we can win and qualify for the final. We’ll decide on our lineup and give our best,” he stated.

This victory marked India's fifth consecutive win in the tournament, ensuring their place in the final. With Sri Lanka eliminated, Pakistan and Bangladesh will face off in a virtual semifinal to determine the other finalist.