What a night it was in Doha for cricket fans! The first semi-final of the 2025 Asia Cup Rising Stars delivered one of the most nerve-wracking, topsy-turvy finishes in recent T20 memory, as Bangladesh A edged out India A in a dramatic Super Over to book their ticket to the final. If you missed this one, you missed a masterclass in chaos, resilience, and last-gasp heroics that left both teams—and their supporters—reeling.
It all started on November 21, 2025, at the packed ground in Doha, with India A winning the toss and opting to bowl first. Bangladesh A’s openers, Habibur Rahman Sohan and Jishan Alam, seized the early initiative, racing to 25 off the first two overs. Alam’s quickfire 26 off 14 set the tone, while Sohan anchored the innings with a composed 50 off 32 balls, bringing up his half-century at a strike rate of over 150. The top order’s aggression put India’s bowlers under the pump, with the pacers leaking runs and the spinners, Harsh Dubey and Suyash Sharma, trying to stem the flow.
Bangladesh A’s innings, though, wasn’t without hiccups. After a strong start, the middle order suffered a collapse. Zawad Abrar and Akbar Ali fell cheaply, and by the 16th over, Bangladesh were teetering at 130 for 6. Enter SM Meherob and Yasir Ali. Meherob, in particular, was sensational—he smashed an unbeaten 48 off just 18 balls, including four towering sixes in a 28-run penultimate over off Naman Dhir. That late surge, capped by a 64-run stand with Yasir Ali, propelled Bangladesh A to a formidable 194 for 6 at the end of their 20 overs. The scoreboard pressure was on.
India A’s response began with a bang. Vaibhav Suryavanshi came out swinging, tearing into Ripon Mondol’s opening over for 20 runs and racing to 38 off just 15 balls. The chase was on! Priyansh Arya steadied the ship with 44, and India A’s fifty came up in just 19 balls. But as the innings wore on, Bangladesh A’s bowlers clawed their way back. Rakibul Hasan and Abu Hider Rony picked up crucial wickets, and the fielders, despite some butterfingers moments, kept the pressure mounting. Naman Dhir and Arya departed in quick succession, and the required rate began to climb.
With the game slipping away, India A needed something special. Jitesh Sharma and Nehal Wadhera tried to keep up, with Jitesh’s 33 giving India a glimmer of hope. But Bangladesh A’s Ripon Mondol was the man of the moment. He delivered a superb 19th over, conceding just five runs and removing the well-set Ramandeep Singh. That left India A needing 16 off the final over, to be bowled by Rakibul Hasan. The tension was palpable—could they pull it off?
The last over was pure cricketing theatre. Ashutosh Sharma, cool as ice, smashed a six and a four, but was bowled by a perfect yorker with four runs still needed off the final ball. Harsh Dubey, at the non-striker’s end, dug out a full delivery to long-on and ran hard. What followed was chaos: a misfield, a wild throw from Bangladesh A’s captain Akbar Ali, and a scramble for three runs. Against all odds, India A tied the match at 194, forcing a Super Over. The crowd erupted. This was the stuff of legend!
As the Super Over loomed, both camps looked nervy. India A, perhaps overthinking, sent out Ramandeep and Jitesh Sharma instead of their six-hitting machine Suryavanshi. Ripon Mondol, riding high on confidence, bowled two absolute gems: first, a pinpoint yorker that castled Jitesh Sharma, then a sharp ball that Ashutosh toe-ended to extra cover. Incredibly, India A were bowled out for zero runs in the Super Over. Talk about pressure!
But the drama wasn’t done. Bangladesh A needed just one run to win. Yasir Ali strode out, only to be caught at long-on by Ramandeep off Suyash Sharma’s first ball. Was another twist in store? Akbar Ali, seeking redemption, took strike. Suyash’s next ball—a nervous, misdirected googly—was called a wide down the leg side. Game over. Bangladesh A had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, winning the Super Over by the barest of margins.
Ripon Mondol was justifiably named Player of the Match for his ice-cool bowling both at the death and in the Super Over. His figures in the 19th over and his Super Over heroics will be talked about for years to come. “Ripon Mondol bowled a superb 19th over, giving away just five runs and removing the well-set Ramandeep Singh,” as reported by ESPN. His calm under pressure made all the difference.
For India A, it was a campaign of what-ifs and missed opportunities. They started the tournament strong but stumbled against Pakistan A in the group stages and were nearly upset by Oman. In the semi-final, fielding lapses, tactical missteps, and nerves at crunch moments cost them dearly. Leaving Suryavanshi out of the Super Over will be debated for a long time among fans and analysts alike.
Bangladesh A, meanwhile, have every reason to celebrate. Their top order fired, their lower order finished strong, and their bowlers held their nerve when it mattered. Meherob’s late blitz, Habibur Rahman’s anchoring knock, and the fielding—erratic but ultimately effective—set up a memorable win. They now advance to the final, where they’ll face the winner of the Pakistan A versus Sri Lanka A clash, scheduled for Sunday, November 23.
So, what’s next? For Bangladesh A, a shot at the Rising Stars Asia Cup title and a chance to etch their names in the annals of youth cricket. For India A, a period of reflection and rebuilding. But if this semi-final taught us anything, it’s that in cricket, it ain’t over till it’s over. The final promises more fireworks—don’t blink, or you might just miss another classic!
