Saif's lone effort in vain as Bangladesh suffer heavy defeat against India

India defeated Bangladesh by 41 runs in their Asia Cup Super Four encounter, restricting the hosts to 127 in 19.3 overs while chasing a target of 169. It was a commanding performance from the visitors, who combined disciplined bowling with clinical fielding to ensure Bangladesh never got back into the contest despite a valiant effort from Saif Hassan.

Chasing 169, Bangladesh never fully recovered from early setbacks. The innings began inauspiciously as Tanzid Hasan Tamim attempted to flick a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah in the second over but only succeeded in edging it to Shivam Dube at mid-off, departing for a solitary run. That early wicket left Bangladesh reeling at 4 for 1. Parvez Hossain Emon joined Saif Hassan to try and steady the innings, but runs came slowly against disciplined Indian bowling. Parvez found the rope with a towering 85-metre six over long on off Bumrah, providing a glimpse of aggression, yet he was dismissed soon after, sweeping Kuldeep Yadav to Abhishek Sharma at square leg for 21 from 19 balls. Bangladesh were 46 for 2 and the pressure was mounting.

Tawhid Hridoy attempted to anchor the middle order alongside Saif Hassan but fell cheaply for 7 to Axar Patel, top-edging the ball to Abhishek Sharma at long on. Shamim Hossain fell in the very next over, bowled by Varun Chakaravarthy, and the slide continued as acting captain Jaker Ali was run out by a direct hit from Suryakumar Yadav, leaving Bangladesh 87 for 5.

Amid the collapse, Saif Hassan's innings stood out. Opening the scoring for his team, he displayed resilience and power, striking multiple boundaries and sixes, including a pair off Axar Patel, and brought up his second consecutive fifty. He finished with 69 runs from 51 balls, including 3 fours and 5 sixes, but his innings could not prevent the steady loss of wickets at the other end. Saif survived four dropped catches, but eventually, in the 18th over, he lofted Jasprit Bumrah to Axar Patel at long off and was dismissed.

The lower order crumbled rapidly after Saif's dismissal. Rishad Hossain and Tanzim Hasan Sakib were both removed by Kuldeep Yadav, and Saifuddin contributed little before Mustafizur Rahman was caught by Axar Patel off Tilak Varma, ending Bangladesh's innings at 127 in 19.3 overs. Despite the early promise shown by Parvez and the resistance of Saif Hassan, Bangladesh were unable to rebuild partnerships and fell well short of the target.

India's innings, in contrast, had been built around a sensational performance from Abhishek Sharma. Sent in to bat, India began cautiously, with Shubman Gill and Abhishek initially restricted by the new-ball bowlers Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Nasum Ahmed, managing only 17 runs from the first three overs. The breakthrough came in the fourth over, as Abhishek and Gill attacked Nasum Ahmed, hitting multiple boundaries and sixes to shift the momentum in India's favour. Abhishek dominated the Powerplay, striking four consecutive boundaries off Mohammad Saifuddin and racing to a 25-ball fifty.

Bangladesh fought back briefly through Rishad Hossain, who removed Gill for 29 and then dismissed Shivam Dube with a googly. However, Abhishek's aggressive approach continued until he was run out for 75 from 37 balls, hitting 6 fours and 5 sixes. Following his dismissal, India's middle order struggled to maintain momentum. Suryakumar Yadav fell for 5, and Tilak Varma for 6, leaving Hardik Pandya to rebuild with 31 runs from 29 balls, including a six and a couple of boundaries. He was eventually caught at long off in the final over. Axar Patel remained unbeaten on 11 as India finished on 168 for 6 in 20 overs.

For Bangladesh, Kuldeep Yadav was the standout bowler with 3 for 32, while Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, and Mohammad Saifuddin all chipped in with tight spells and key breakthroughs. Despite Abhishek Sharma's brilliance, the early wickets in the chase and consistent pressure from Indian bowlers ensured that Bangladesh never got back into the contest. India's combination of attacking batting and disciplined bowling proved decisive in securing a comfortable 41-run win.