India vs Bangladesh Asia Cup 2018 Final highlights:
India (From): Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni(w), Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lokesh Rahul, Manish Pandey, Deepak Chahar, Siddarth Kaul, K Khaleel Ahmed
Bangladesh (From): Liton Das(w), Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza(c), Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Hider Rony, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Nazmul Islam, Mosaddek Hossain, Ariful Haque
Well this is a tournament that seems to be in a constant state of identity crisis. It tried going T20 and this year returned back to being an ODI tournament. Regardless of all that, the Asia Cup has certainly thrown up some incredible matches this year. From Hong Kong's resistance against the Indian might to Afghanistan's compelling performances to the incredible that Bangladesh put up while defending a modest total of 222 against the mighty Indian batting lineup, this has been a tournament to remember and savour.
An incredible century that was very much the foundation of Bangladesh's challenge this evening. It is one of those rare moments when a player from the losing team is man of the match but there is little argument about it.
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"We played some good cricket through the tournament and this is the reward for hard work. We've put in a complete performance. We dominated the entire tournament and this is the reward. Games like these can happen, and I've been part of such encounters before. But credit to the boys out there to handle the pressure towards the end. And to cross the finishing line was a great effort. Bangladesh batted brilliantly, put us under pressure early. But we knew that we could get back when the ball becomes older. It was important to keep the pressure building, and it was something we did well in doing. With a team so good, the captain always looks good. But it's not easy without the support of the ten other players, so credit to them. Last but not the least, thanks to the crowd. Right from the beginning, they've come in huge numbers."
"Yes, we played with our heart. We played till the last ball, but we did mistakes with both bat and ball. If you look at our bowling, everytime we score more than 240 we win the matches. That's what we asked from the batsmen. But in the end, the bowlers did a really good job. The way India were scoring, it was important to bowl Mustafizur in the 49th, because they were scoring every ball. So couldn't introduce a spinner at that stage."
"Really enjoyed this tournament. Fantastic final, and really good tournament for myself. Enjoyed my batting and want to continue this way. England tour has helped me become mature, and I was playing more balanced in this tournament. Want to remain consistent. Helps to have Rohit as the partner. His consistency at the top matters for me as well. He plays the aggressor's role, sometimes I do. And he too had a great Asia Cup."
A roller coaster of a last over, a fitting finish to a truly rivetting game of ODI cricket. At the end of it, India stay on top. Singles were taken off the first two balls. Then came a double, a dot ball and a single leaving India with 1 run to win off the last ball. Jadhav pushed it fine coolly and took India home.
Mahmudullah is the man with the ball for the last over. It looked like Soumya Sarkar was going to bowl but Mortaza seemed to have changed his mind. Kuldeep on strike.
And another twist if the previous one was not enough. Wide delivery outside off accross Buvi's body and he reaches for it, he nicks it to Mushfiqur. Don't dare predict a winner in this one.
Jadeja nicks it! Umpire says not out. There is no way he could have heard that nick in this stadium that is absolutely rocking. Bangladesh go for the the review and it is an obvious edge. More drama then. Kedar Jadhav is back in the field.
The last shot of that over is played fine by Bhuvi and that races away to the boundary. At the end of it all, it looks like it is Bhuvneshwar Kumar the batsman who seems to be set upon saving India.
Bhuvneshwar hits it over long on and clears the boundary! Six very very welcome runs for India. That has taken them a step and a half closer to victory.
Need 36 to win off 42. Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar are hanging in there while Mashrafe and co. are throwing the proverbial kitchen sink on them. The batsmen are jittery, as is evidenced by the scream of anguish that Bhuvneshwar let out when he completely missed a cut.
Need 45 to win off 54. Fluids coming in for Bhuvneshwar. These are punishing conditions for the players. Bhuvneshwar has had some close calls so far but the two batsmen have managed to squeeze out runs, which is the important thing.
Kedar Jadhav retires hurt, Bhuvneshwar Kumar replaces him in the middle. A good decision this from the Indians. Jadhav was not able to run at all while Bhuvneshwar is more than capable of tucking away singles, which is only what India need right now.
KL Rahul and Jadhav had a longish conversation in the middle when the former came out with drinks. There is also a big conference in the Indian dressing room. It seems Jadhav's injury is something that the Indians don't want to risk too much on. At the moment, he is carrying on, Ravindra Jadeja on the other end.
Is this the turning point in the match? The Indian faces were smiling now but they have all dropped. RIght the opposite with the Bangladeshi supporters. Ball going accross him and Dhoni slashes at it, he only gets a nick to the keeper. India are in a real soup now.
Kedar Jadhav needs some attention. It seems to be his hamstrings. He has had this problem in the past. It doesn't look good, he has to stick around with Dhoni for a long time yet.
There is the breakthrough. Karthik misses a full toss completely. It falls squarely on his toe and that is as plumb as they come. These two have been chugging along nicely but this wicket puts Bangladesh back in the game.
It is the 'keeper act at the moment. Both these players are experienced campaigners and have slowly but steadily put India right back on track.
India are taken past the 100-run mark by a powerful but slightly mistimed cover drive but it races away to the boundary anyhow. In the next over he does the same, only this time he dances down the track and connects it sweetly. The ball zips to the boundary, takes a bounce and goes over. Raw. Power
A welcome six off the willow of Karthik off the fourth ball of that over. He adjusted himself to the back foot and smashed over mid on. No need for any fielder to even look at that.
Need 133 to win off 180 balls. Easy does it from the two veteran wicketkeepers. There is absolutely no need right now to try anything and so, for the moment, there is almost a Test match-like feel to the innings. They are respecting the good deliveries and dealing mostly in singles and doubles. Only concern here is that either don't let the pressure get the better of them.
There is the wicket they had been looking for. Rohit Sharma has played some exquisite pull shots today. He does the same again but this time ends up finding the fielder. He departs for 48 and India are in some serious trouble now.
Ooooh India have got away with this one. Rohit Sharma drives towards long on, waits for it to go past the fielder and calls for the run, but when he sees that the ball has been recovered, he stops in his tracks and asks Karthik to go back, but then he decides to run anyway and for a moment both batsmen are running towards the same end. Rohit then turns around and decides to go back to the striker's end. The Bangladesh fielder decides to throw it to the non-striker's end where Karthik is safe and sound. Very elegant cricket.
The boundaries have dried up but that won't concern India at the moment. Their run rate remains above what is required. Rohit and Karthik are looking to do damage control at the moment.
It has come in nine overs at the cost of two wickets. India have a rather unsteady belly and so this partnership here will be crucial.
Well, well, well! We might have a game here folks. Rayudu walks forward, Mortaza gets it angling into him, the batsman tries to get a glance towards leg but ends up nicking it to the keeper. Game on!
So, Ambati Rayudu comes out to join his captain in the middle. Rohit Sharma does look in good touch. He hit the second six of this innings with a typically classy pull of The Fizz. No doubt, Bangladesh will start feeling truly confident only after they can get one more wicket.
Well there goes the first wicket. Dhawan lobs it straight to mid off and Nazmul does the naagin dance. Full outside off moving away from the left hander, Dhawan tries to lob it over mid off but can't get the elevation or the distance.
Mehidy Hasan starts the Bangladesh attack, Rohit Sharma on strike. Single off the first ball and Dhawan then tees off with a four.
Despite the fact that Bangladesh could have got a lot more than this, 223 remains a good target to defend. If they manage to take a few early wickets, India have shown frailty in their middle order, as we saw in the match against Afghanistan. The Bangladesh players are out on the pitch, Mustafizur Rahman is going about his motions. Waiting for the Indian batsmen now.
India need 223 to win the Asia Cup. Yorker that Rubel Hossain is utterly clueless about. It goes unimpeded to the stumps. Bangladesh have been razed by India since the wicket of Mehidy Hasan Maraz fell.
Another run out, Soumya Sarkar has to walk having made 33. That practically marks the end of the Bangladesh innings
Bumrah appeals for LBW, that is turned down but hey, so what? Nazmul has decided to run with his partner deciding to stay put. Easy run out.
Somehow. They have absolutely been rattled in pursuit of their second 100 by the Indian bowlers. For now, this looks like another cakewalk for India.
Googly, Dhoni stumps. Bangladesh are on collapso mode here. That opening partnership made it look like we might have a match here. But the rest of the team have fallen in a heap since then,
And that ends the big innings. Liton walks having made 121. A lot of replays needed for this one, but it is established in the end that Liton had pretty much nothing behind the line. What an innings this has been from him.
Bangladesh's run rate has plummetted in these last few overs. Liton tries to play a length ball fine from Bumrah and almost ends up chopping it on to the stumps.
Liton Das is on 107 while Soumya Sarkar has made 7. Damage control is the name of the game at the moment for Bangladesh now. India are smelling blood and they have their tails up in the field.
Kedar Jadhav has been asked to remove some bandage he had on his right hand. Not sure if it is the umpires themselves who asked for that or the batsmen. Dean Jones had once asked West Indies great Curtly Ambrose to do something similar to this; it didn't end nicely for the Australians. Of course, Jadhav is no Ambrose, or is he?
Played across the line and the ball flies up in the air. But there is not enough distance, Bumrah does well to take the catch behind him near the boundary line. Another one bites the dust.
Good news for a change for Bangladesh. Liton Das calmly pushes it down to long on and calmly runs a single to move from 99 to 100. Bangladesh would want him to carry on. They have gone 120/0 to 139/4 within seven overs.
And now they are crumbling! Mithun ran the run, Liton didn't flinch, Jadeja's throw is perfect and Chahal simply has to collect it and take the bails off.
Second wicket of the day for Golden Arm Jadhav. A poor shot from Mushfiqur and he easily finds the fielder in midwicket. Kedar is picking 'em apart.
Kayes reviews the decison. Checking for bat before pad which seems to be the point of contention. However there is none and bal tracking shows that the ball would be smashing onto the wicket. Bangladesh lose their second.
Imrul Kayes joins Liton in the middle. Kedar bowled another wicket but Liton doesn't bite. He is brough on strike to face the last two balls and calmly pushes away the second one for two runs, moves to 91.
It's that man Jadhav again. Batsmen simply cannot resist the temptation to go after him, can they? Mehidy makes space for a might smash through the covers, ends up hitting it straight to point.
A calmer over, just six off it. The runs are coming all too easy for Bangladesh. A lot of furrowed eyebrows among the Indians.
100-run opening stand between Liton and Mehidy. It's all going Bangladesh's way at the moment and the formidable Indian bowling attack is looking a little clueless at the moment.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz has joined the party now, Liton a little more cautious after that dropped catch by Yuzvendra. This is exactly the kind of start Bangladesh would have been hoping for. India on the backfoot at the moment.
If there was ever a good chance, that was it but Chahal misjudged the trajectory of the ball. Liton tries to slog sweep a delivery full on off and it goes straight up in the air. But Chahal has come too far underneath it, has to reach backwards to get to the ball. He drops and smashes his head to the ground at the end of the fall. No injuries though, but the Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni are not happy.
What a blinder of an innings this has been. 33 balls, six fours and two sixes. Bangladesh have got off to a very strong start thanks to him.
Liton and Mehidy have taken Bangladesh to a quick start. Liton has played the role of run-getter in chief; he has made 42 in 27 balls so far smashing four fours and two sixes.
Liton Das is leading the attacking for Bangladesh as he hammers Jasprit Bumrah for boundary and then takes a triple-run in the next ball. Bangladesh are on the move.
Liton Das gets the first boundary in the match as he gets an outside edge on a curling delivery from Jasprit Bumrah to get the things underway for Bangladesh. The ball travelled past the second slip for a boundary and Bangaldesh get their first four. 2 overs gone, BAN 8/0
Jasprit Bumrah starts off from the other end for India. Bumrah has been exceptional with the new ball and in death overs. India would rely on him to get an early breakthrough in the match.
Bhvuneshwar Kumar pitched a full length delivery which was edged by Liton Das towards the third slip. Dinesh Karthik made a diving effort towards his right, but failed to reach the ball. The ball travelled to the third man as Das picked up a couple of runs.
Liton Das and Mehidy Hasan come out to open the innings for Bangladesh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been given the new ball by skipper Rohit Sharma. HERE WE GO!
Safe to say, more support for India in Dubai than for Bangladesh. Interesting name for a group as well - "#HabibiArmy"
Bangladehs's record in finals:
vs SL, Dhaka, 2009: Lost by two wickets (Tri-series)
vs Pakistan, Dhaka, 2012: Lost by two runs (Asia Cup ODI)
vs India, Dhaka, 2016: Lost by eight wickets (Asia Cup T20I)
vs SL, Dhaka, 2018: Lost by 79 runs (Tri-series)
vs India, RPS, 2018: Lost by four wickets (Nidahas Trophy)