Opener Shikhar Dhawan hit a timely form to score a fifty as India broke the hearts of Bangladesh with a crushing eight-wicket win to clinch their sixth Asia Cup title in Dhaka on Sunday.
Al-Amin Hossain struck early to remove dangerman Rohit Sharma for just one but Dhawan and Kohli put 94 runs for the second wicket to silence thousands of roaring fans at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Dhawan, who made just 19 in his previous three innings, hit 60 off 44 balls as India reached 122-2 in 13.5 overs after Bangladesh posted a commendable 120-5 in a rain-drenched pitch.
The match was reduced to 15-over-a-side affair after rain and thunderstorm delayed the start for exactly two hours.
India seized the momentum despite some early pressure after Abu Hider and Sakib al Hasan conceded 14 and 15 runs in their respective first over.
Hider, playing his first match in the tournament, however can claim himself unlucky as two edged raced for boundaries in his only over.
Taskin Ahmed, who was brilliant throughout the competition, ended the innings of Dhawan in his second spell as Soumya took the catch at point but it was too little an effort that came too late.
Skipper MS Dhoni, 20 not out, hit two sixes and a four in Al-Amin’s final over to complete the win in an emphatic manner with Kohli remaining unbeaten on 41 in the other end.
Earlier, an in-form Mahmudullah struck an unbeaten 33 off 13 balls to give Bangladesh what looked like a fighting score.
Mahmudullah, who struck two fours and as many sixes, added 45 runs in an unbroken sixth wicket stand with Sabbir Rahman.
Sabbir anchored the innings with an unbeaten 32 off 29 balls.
Asked to bat first by India captain MS Dhoni in a rain-drenched pitch, Bangladesh made a positive start as Soumya Sarkar and Tamim Iqbal gathered 27 runs in the opening partnership.
Ashish Nehra and Jasprit Bumrah struck in back-to-back overs to dismiss Soumya (14) and Tamim (13) respectively but Sakib ensured Bangladesh did not lose their way.
Sakib hit 21 off 16 balls with three boundaries before attempted a slog sweep that brought an end to his innings as Bumrah took the catch at short fine leg off Ravichandran Ashwin.
Mahmudullah joined Sabbir after Mushfiqur Rahim was run out for four and skipper Mashrafee Mortaza followed him in the next ball giving Virat Kohli a catch at deep midwicket off Ravindra Jadeja.
Mahmudullah, the 30-year old right-hander, who was also unbeaten in his previous three innings in the tournament, hit Hardik Pandya a four and two sixes to score 19 runs in the penultimate over.
Bangladesh will leave home today with a chartered flight for India to participate in the ICC World Twenty20, where they are pitted against Netherlands, Ireland and Oman in the qualifying round.
-With New Age input
