Jadeja and Rohit topple the Tigers to keep India unbeaten

India maintained their unbeaten record in the 2018 Asia Cup with a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in their Super Four stage match in Dubai.

Ravindra Jadeja came straight into the XI after being called up to replace Axar Patel and made an immediate impact playing his first ODI in over a year.

Bangladesh’s makeshift opening pair of Liton Das (7) and Nazmul Hossain Shanto (7) both failed again as India’s opening bowlers picked up a wicket apiece inside the first six overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah picked up three wickets each but Jadeja would destroy the Bangladesh middle-order.

Jadeja accounted for Shakib Al Hasan (17), Mushfiqur Rahim (21), Mohammad Mithun (9) and Mosssadek Hossain (12) to prevent the Bangladesh innings from gaining any momentum.

Mehedi Hasan (42) offered stubborn resistance and would help to put a respectable sheen to a poor batting effort from Bangladesh helping lift them from 101 for 7 to 173 all out.

Skipper Rohit Sharma managed the run chase with maturity striking 83 not out from 104 balls and ensuring he saw the job through himself.

Shikhar Dhawan (40) shared a 61-run opening stand with Rohit where he was the chief aggressor but once he fell leg before to Shakib Amabati Rayudu (13) struggled to score and Rohit accelerated.

An MS Dhoni cameo (37) just about saw India home, his wicket fell with victory almost assured.

“It was a clinical performance from the start,” said winning captain Rohit. “We bowled very well and we always knew it was going to be better batting under the lights. Very good from everyone.

“It was important on a pitch like that to rotate the bowlers and now allow the batsmen to settle. We wanted to rotate the bowlers in shorter spells. It was a challenge for us, but I think they responded well.

“We always knew if we stuck to tight lines, the wickets would come. Jadeja, playing an ODI after a long time, to come out and bowl like that was a great effort from him. Great effort from everyone, I don’t want to single out anyone.

“Once you’re in, you got to make sure you bat as long and as deep as possible. We got to go back and recover. Tomorrow is a day off. Hope to repeat the same performance against Pakistan.”

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