Image: KL Rahul earned the Fielder of the Match medal after India's win against Bangladesh / © NDTV Sports
For the opening match of the Champions Trophy 2025, India defeated Bangladesh by six wickets on February 20. KL Rahul was awarded the “Fielder of the Match” medal, handed over by Ravindra Jadeja, for his sharp work behind the stumps. The competition for the medal included Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Rahul, continuing the tradition from the 2023 ODI World Cup.
India dominated the first innings, reducing Bangladesh to 228 runs in 49.4 overs. Mohammed Shami, returning to an ICC event, claimed a five-wicket haul, while Harshit Rana took 3 wickets and Axar Patel grabbed 2. Patel narrowly missed a hat-trick after Rohit Sharma dropped a catch in the slips.
Chasing 229, India got off to a solid start despite Rohit Sharma falling for 41 and Virat Kohli for 22. Shubman Gill anchored the chase with a brilliant century, staying unbeaten till the end. KL Rahul supported him with 41 runs, ensuring India’s comfortable victory. Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel contributed 15 and 8 runs, respectively. This strong start gives India momentum as they progress further into the tournament.