Team India thrashed Bangladesh by nine wickets in the second semi-final of ICC Champions Trophy 2017 to set up the final clash with arch nemesis Pakistan on 18th June at the iconic Oval on Sunday.
The defending champions gave a thoroughly professional performance against the Bangla Tigers and didn’t really allowed the opposition to take control in any department of the game. Especially, it was the Indian batsmen who flexed their muscles in the must-win contest that Bangladesh looking for answers.
However, according to Indian skipper Virat Kohli, it was the spell of part-time off-spinner Kedar Jadhav which helped India to restrict Bangladesh to 264/7 and then cantering to an easy win.
"We had another complete game. When we won the toss, I expected another clean performance. Honestly, we never expected us to win by nine wickets but that is the quality we have at the top of the order. With the ball, we never let them away. The two quick wickets got us the momentum. He (Jadhav) has bowled in India as well. He is a smart guy. He knows where to pitch it. Had those guys carried on, we would have been chasing 300.
"Kedar's spell was the difference in the game for us. To restrict them to 260....they never got away from us. We never let them get past six runs an over," Kohli said after the match.
India rode on Rohit Sharma's unbeaten 123 and Virat Kohli's unconquered 96 to sail into the final. The defending champions were in full control of the game from the word go as in-form opener Shikhar Dhawan also smacked a quickfire 34-ball 46.
Earlier, Jadhav took the crucial wickets of Mushfiqur Rahim (61) and Tamim Iqbal (70) to break the 123-run third wicket stand and dash any hopes of a Bangladesh big score after being put in to bat first by India.
"The wicket was so good and there was no need to play dangerous shots. We are practicing smart and so we are doing well. You will see this kind of results because teams don't want to give even one percentage away," Kohli said on the team.
"We deserve to be in the final. We have played some really good cricket," he said.
India will now take on Pakistan in a blockbuster final on Sunday to retain their Champions Trophy crown.
(With IANS inputs)
