Media365
It was a bittersweet evening for Sanju Samson in Dubai as India sealed their place in the Asia Cup 2025 final with a comprehensive 41-run win over Bangladesh on Wednesday. While the Men in Blue ticked most boxes, Samson endured a tough day at the office, not getting a chance to bat and then dropping a catch in the deep.The moment came in the 16th over of Bangladesh’s chase. Varun Chakaravarthy forced Saif Hassan into a miscued slog-sweep, only for Samson to put in a desperate dive at mid-wicket. He got his gloves to it, but the ball agonizingly slipped out. It was the second dropped chance in that over, summing up a frustrating evening for the wicketkeeper-batter.Watch:Fortunately for India, the miss proved inconsequential. Bangladesh folded for 127 in 19.3 overs, chasing 169. Jasprit Bumrah (2/18), Kuldeep Yadav (3/18), and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/29) spearheaded a clinical bowling display, with Axar Patel (1/37) and even part-timer Tilak Varma (1/1 in 0.3 overs) chipping in.Earlier, Suryakumar Yadav’s men posted 168/6 after opting to bat. Abhishek Sharma was the standout, blazing 75 off 37 with six fours and five sixes. Shubman Gill added 29, while Hardik Pandya chipped in with a brisk 38. Bangladesh’s bowlers, particularly Mustafizur Rahman (1/31) and Rishad Hossain (2/27), applied some brakes in the middle overs, but India’s top order had already laid the foundation.In reply, Bangladesh never looked settled. Only opener Saif Hassan (69 off 51) offered resistance, but with little support from the rest, the target was always out of reach.India’s victory means they storm into the Asia Cup final, keeping their unbeaten run intact. For Samson, however, it was a day to forget, but he will know there are bigger battles to come, with a trophy on the line.
