Indian fast bowler Harshit Rana has shared the backstory behind a viral video that captured a fiery moment between him and Bangladesh’s Soumya Sarkar. The clash took place in the second semi-final of the 2023 Emerging Asia Cup at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium.

The tense exchange happened shortly after Sarkar was dismissed, sparking a brief war of words between the two players. The video quickly spread on social media, drawing attention from fans across both nations. While it looked intense on camera, Rana has now provided clarity on what led to the situation.

He explained that emotions were high due to the importance of the match, and such moments are common in competitive cricket. Rana added that there was no personal grudge, and everything settled down quickly after the game. His comments aimed to put the incident into perspective and calm any lingering controversy.

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Harshit Recalled That Intense Moment Between Two Teams:

On August 6, during an appearance on Ranveer Allahbadia’s YouTube podcast, Harshit Rana opened up about the incident. He said that while celebrating Soumya’s dismissal, a remark from the Bangladesh player fueled the intense exchange. Rana clarified that his reaction was a response to Sarkar’s words, not an intentional provocation from his side.

Harshit said, “ When Sarkar got out, that's where things started. All of us were playing in the Under-23 Emerging Asia Cup. He is an international cricketer, and he was fully involved in what was happening. Honestly, if you watch that video carefully, I didn’t say a single thing to him. I was just celebrating the wicket. I was standing at square leg. When he got out, I was walking and shouting in celebration. He said something to me, and that’s when it all began.”

Harshit Rana said, after India’s win, Yash threw some balls toward the Bangladesh dressing room in frustration. Despite the tension, Dhull stood out for his performance, scoring 66 runs and earning the Player of the Match award.

He further said, “ That’s when the exchange started. After that, all of their batters got heavily sledged by us. We gave it back more than what they gave us. And then we won that match. Yash Dhull even threw the ball toward their dressing room after the match.”

While recalling the incident, he mentioned that it was the Bangladesh team who initiated the confrontation. According to him, they had been verbally targeting Indian players during India’s batting innings, which led to rising tension. Rana felt that the heated exchange was a reaction to the earlier behavior from the opposition, not something that started without reason.

He said, “ You won’t believe it, but when our match against Bangladesh started, the usual tension was there. It always happens when India plays Bangladesh. Kotak sir was our coach at the time. We were batting first and got bowled out for around 160 or so.”

He added, “ During our batting, the Bangladesh players were constantly abusing us. I was inside, batting, and the atmosphere was intense. They were targeting me and Yash Dhull with nonstop verbal abuse. After I got out and returned to the dugout, we were sitting together, talking about how much abuse was being thrown at us from the field. The whole situation was already getting heated.”

Harshit Talked About What Coach Told Them:

Harshit Rana mentioned that during the break between innings, coach Sitanshu Kotak encouraged the team to stay calm and maintain sportsmanship. However, the players chose to answer the opposition's aggression with their own intensity, deciding not to stay silent in the face of provocation on the field.

He concluded, “ Kotak sir was listening and reminded us that we are going to play peaceful cricket. There is no need to get into fights on the field, and the best way to respond was by winning. But all the young players, whether from Delhi or Punjab, like Abhishek bhai and Riyan, were fired up. Bangladesh had this one left-arm spinner who hurled a lot of abuse at us. You can say whatever you want, but when someone crosses the line, it hits differently. And they were the ones who started it. We were batting first.”

He added, “ Then during our bowling, in the very first over, I was hit for four boundaries, 16 runs. They reached around 70 to 80 runs without losing a wicket. But then we got one wicket and felt a bit pumped up. Then another wicket followed, and the energy kept building.”

India won the match by 51 runs, successfully defending their total of 212 runs with strong bowling and fielding. The bowlers delivered a strong performance, keeping the opposition in check and ensuring the team advanced with a convincing win in this crucial encounter.

In a major decision, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to boycott the next Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting to be held in Dhaka. The decision, driven by the ongoing political tensions between India and Bangladesh, comes with a demand to change the venue of the meeting to a neutral location like Dubai. BCCI has stated that it will not send any representatives to Bangladesh this year.

The meeting was supposed to address important scheduling questions, like the Asia Cup and other Regional tournaments. However, now the BCCI has stated position highlights the increasing influence of emerging geopolitical tensions on cricket diplomacy. With strained relations not only with Bangladesh but also with Pakistan, India is treading cautiously in matters of multinational tournaments.

According to sources, India has been granted clearance to participate in the Junior World Cup. However, if the Asia Cup is indeed held in the UAE—as is being considered—India may focus solely on bilateral cricket engagements in August. A bilateral series with Sri Lanka or participation in a tri-nation tournament at a neutral venue is currently under discussion to keep the team engaged.

India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Clashes in Sight

Despite the diplomatic hurdles, cricket fans may still get to witness one of the sport’s most anticipated rivalries. Sources indicate that India and Pakistan are likely to face off in the Asia Cup on September 7 and again on September 14, should both teams qualify for the Super Four stage or final. These matches are expected to draw global attention, especially if played in the UAE, which offers a politically neutral and logistically feasible option.

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With the final call on venue and participation still awaiting government clearance, the BCCI's boycott of the Dhaka meeting underscores the delicate balance between politics and sport on the subcontinent. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining India's cricketing calendar up to the Asia Cup.

India and Bangladesh have traditionally been friendly neighbors. Both countries have historically maintained warm relationships for several decades now. India, being a brotherly nation, has never hesitated to extend a helping hand to Bangladesh. In fact, India played a pivotal role in helping Bangladesh achieve independence in 1971. But in recent times, things have turned sour between the two nations. The recent postponement of India's tour of Bangladesh depicts just how badly the diplomatic ties have been impacted in recent times. 

It all changed when a violent student uprising shook the country in August 2024, which ultimately led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. Under the new Muhammad Yunis-led government, the country has seen a sharp rise in attacks against the Hindu minorities. Moreover, the country has also adopted a very hostile approach against India and seems to be leaning more towards its former authoritarian masters, Pakistan. Besides, the new Bangladeshi government is also in talks with Pakistan and China to reinstate an old airbase in the province of Rangpur, which can threaten to choke India's Siliguri corridor, India's sole linkage to the seven sisters. 

In light of heightened hostility and shifting political landscape, should India play Bangladesh in upcoming bilateral and international tournaments? We have highlighted key reasons why India should refrain from playing any form of cricket against Bangladesh. 

See also: Should India play Pakistan in upcoming Asia Cup 2025?

Bangladesh politics in turmoil

Ever since the exit of Sheikh Hasina last year, the country's political climate has become a lot murky. Former leaders and MP of the Awami League, including former cricketers Mashrafe Mortaza and Naimur Rahman Durjoy have come under the scanner of the authorities. Besides, Bangladesh's start all-rounder, Shakib AL Hassan, who was also a member of Hasina's now-ousted party has not been able to return to his homeland either. Meanwhile, the new government's policies have become more anti-Indian, and it is under their leadership, we are starting to see reports of widespread attacks against the Hindu minorities. In this chaotic atmosphere, we can't think of playing cricket against a nation whose hands are drenched in blood.

Hatred shown by Bangladesh cricketers in the past

Keeping politics aside, the on-field behavior of the Bangladeshi cricketers towards the Indian cricketers has also caused a lot of stir in the past. Ugly on-field altercations have taken place between the players from the two sides, attracting widespread condemnation from the Indian viewers. The most infamous of them all was the 2020 U-19 World Cup Final in South Africa, which Bangladesh managed to win by a narrow margin. 

A dispute erupted as soon as Bangladesh were able to hit the winning runs. Bangladesh players stormed onto the field and started celebrating aggressively the moment Rakibul Hasan struck the winning runs. A physical altercation ensued—Bangladesh players reportedly shouted at Indian opponents and physically shoved them, while some Indian players pushed back. Harsha Bhogle criticized the lack of sportsmanship, saying young players should “shake hands” and avoid “abusive sledging”  while Former Test spinner Bishan Singh Bedi labeled the behavior “disgusting” and “disgraceful”.

Then, in another separate instance during the 2024 U-19 Asia Cup Final, another ugly spat broke out between the two teams. Though not physical in nature, this time, both teams sledged each other verbally. The friction stayed within verbal limits, but tensions ran high with aggressive sledging audible on camera.

Anti-Indian comments from Bangladeshi cricketers

If all of the above reasons were not enough, inflammatory remarks have previously been issued by the Bangladeshi players. Captain Azizul Hakim Tamim was seen urging the crowd to chant “Allahu Akbar” as Bangladesh pulled ahead in the final overs of the 2024 U-19 Asia Cup Final—an action widely criticized as mixing religion and sport to rile up spectators against India.

Bangladeshi bowlers like Shoriful Islam and Tanzim Hasan Sakib were repeatedly heard sledging Indian batsmen during the World Cup (though overlaps with 2020), often using harsh or abusive language. In one incident, a ball was nearly thrown at Divyansh Saxena’s helmet, drawing sharp criticism from the Indian viewers. The Bangladeshi players faced severe backlash from the Indian users on social media and were called out for displaying disrespectful and needlessly aggressive behavior. These acts give us an insight into the typical mindset of a Bangladeshi player and the stance they have against India.   

CricketWinner's views on Ind-Ban cricketing ties

According to CricketWinner, India should sever cricketing ties with Bangladesh, a nation that plots against us and works hard towards undermining the credibility of our government and armed forces. On similar grounds, India have boycotted playing against Pakistan bilaterally. A similar approach can also be adopted to isolate Bangladesh cricket in an effort to make them mend their ways. The Indian cricket board is the richest cricketing board in the world and can easily survive without playing against Bangladesh. It is Bangladesh who are in dire need of funds in the form of ticket sales, sponsorships, and broadcast deals.

India’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh, which was set to take place in August-September 2025, has now been postponed to 2026, the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) announced on Saturday. The tour originally included three T20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals between the two sides.

According to the official statement, the decision came after discussions between the BCCI, the BCB, and the two boards decided to postpone the series, looking at the international calendar and logistical issues. The tour has been postponed until September 2026.

In its media release, the BCCI said, “The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have mutually agreed to defer the white-ball series, three ODIs and three T20 Internationals, between Bangladesh and India in August 2025 to September 2026.”

New Dates and Fixtures to Be Announced Later

The BCCI further added, “This decision has been reached following discussions between the two Boards, taking into account the international cricketing commitments and scheduling convenience of both teams. The BCB looks forward to welcoming India in September 2026 for this eagerly anticipated series. Revised dates and fixtures for the tour will be announced in due course.”

🚨 NEWS 🚨

Rescheduling of India’s white-ball Tour of Bangladesh.

Details 🔽 #TeamIndiahttps://t.co/qaOWJBgJdu

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 5, 2025

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While political tensions between the countries are believed to be a background factor, the official reason for the postponement remains scheduling and calendar clashes. Both cricket boards are now working on finalizing new T20I dates that will suit both sides in 2026.

As per reports from Cricbuzz, India's upcoming tour to Bangladesh has been called off with immediate effect. The white-ball tour comprised a set of three ODIs and three T20Is, originally planned to commence on August 17. While an official statement on this matter is awaited, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have reportedly put their preparations for this series on hold. This development comes amidst Bangladesh's deteriorating bilateral ties with India. What's more worrisome is Bangladesh's growing inclination towards their arch-rival Pakistan, which alarms New Delhi.

Over the past decades, the diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Dhaka have worsened for a number of reasons. And ever since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's regime in August 2024, attacks against the Hindu minorities have skyrocketed to an unprecedented level. This development has angered the Indian public and has sparked calls for a boycott. While no side has made any comments yet, it is believed that the general consensus suggests that the government has advised the BCCI against proceeding with the tour. 

See also: Bangladesh Tour of Sri Lanka 2025 2nd Test : Live Streaming and where to watch

Digging into this evolving story

The first obvious sign of the tour's cancellation or postponement became evident when BCB proposed to pause the sale of its media rights. The technical bidding was supposed to get underway on Monday (July 7), and the financial bidding was expected to follow suit on Thursday (July 10). But up until now, there has been no progress reported on this front. 

However, on the contrary, the BCB is now planning to sell the rights for the three-match T20I home series against Pakistan instead. The series is scheduled to take place from July 17 to 25.

According to an Indian broadcaster, the Invitation to Tender (ITT) for this series was originally scheduled to be available from June 15 to July 6. But reports suggest that it has been postponed until further notice. Furthermore, the broadcaster confirms that the BCB has instead issued the ITT for the upcoming Pakistan series. 

"They have informed us that there is no India series. After announcing the tender, they did not provide the ITT. They are selling, for now, only for the Pakistan series."

In addition, an unknown BCB official also dispels further doubts regarding the possibility of the tour being called off. In a startling revelation, the official reveals that the BCCI had already hinted that they were be unable to visit the country in August. 

"The date for the India series hasn't been fixed yet. They (the BCCI) said it's difficult for them to come in August. This is part of FTP."

Despite the BCCI's firm stance against the Bangladesh tour, a formal decision is expected within a week. It may not be a surprise if the BCCI and the BCB issue a joint statement at some stage on the status of the series.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is still awaiting confirmation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding India’s scheduled tour of Bangladesh in August. BCB president Aminul Islam revealed that although discussions have been encouraging, the final decision from the BCCI is pending approval from the Indian government. He made the comments at a conference in Dhaka after a six-hour board of directors meeting.

Aminul noted that the tour, which consists of limited-overs matches in August, is still tentatively on. However, uncertainty persists due to undisclosed reasons, and the BCCI has conveyed to the BCB that an alternative window will be considered if August is not feasible. The BCB chief emphasized that the conversations so far have been cooperative and constructive.

While there is hope the tour will go ahead as planned, the BCB is also prepared for a possible postponement. According to Aminul, India remains committed to touring Bangladesh, even if it has to be rescheduled. The original tour plan announced in April included six matches across Mirpur and Chattogram—three ODIs and three T20Is.

India’s Tour of Bangladesh Awaits Government Clearance, Says BCB Chief

“I have already spoken to the BCCI. Discussions have been positive,” Aminul said. “We remain hopeful. It is scheduled [next month], but they are waiting for some decisions from the government.”

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“The discussions are ongoing. If for some reason they can't come [in August], they will come at the next available window. We are hopeful of playing in this window. I can't say much apart from the fact that they are very professional and cooperative.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to get clarification for the hosting country Pakistan's name missing during the Group A match India vs Bangladesh during the second game of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 started on Wednesday (February 19) with the Group A match between Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi. While New Zealand won that match by 60 runs, the whole match was broadcast with the name of Pakistan under the Champions Trophy 2025 logo in the left corner of the broadcast. 

See Also: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Ben Duckett thrashes tournament record; England record first-ever 350+ CT total

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India vs Bangladesh broadcast experienced "Pakistan" missing from logo

On the next day, the other Group A team India and Bangladesh started their tournament journey, which was played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The entire match carried the Champions Trophy 2025 logo without the name of Pakistan as well as UAE. However, the next two fixtures, which were played at the National Stadium in Karachi (Afghanistan vs South Africa) and at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore (Australia vs England), carried the hosting country's name along with the tournament logo.

The ICC has reportedly told the PCB that it was an early technical error, but the PCB hasn't been reportedly satisfied. The PCB has reportedly asked for assurance of no further similar mistakes, the ICC has reportedly clarified that the issue won't happen in future matches. The Group A match India vs Pakistan has been scheduled for Sunday (February 23) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. 

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: UAE added to the schedule only for Indian matches

The hosting rights for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 were a big issue as Pakistan has the complete rights to the tournament. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to travel to Pakistan, and after a long wait, Pakistan ultimately confirmed that Dubai in the United Arab Emirates would host all Indian matches of the tournament. 

The Indian cricket squad produced a record-breaking performance when they played the recent match with Bangladesh in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Some players reached milestone career marks, producing new records for One Day Internationals (ODIs) and ICC competitions.

Major Records Broken
1. Most Indian catches in ODIs as a fielder (156)
One of India's greatest fielders broke a new national record for the most catches taken in ODI history for India. This also indicates the emphasis on good fielding in cricket today. By Virat Kohli

2. 2nd Fastest to 11,000 ODI Runs
An Indian batsman became the second quickest in cricket history to achieve 11,000 ODI runs. This is indicative of consistency and supremacy in global cricket. by Rohit Sharma

3. Most Centuries in International Cricket Since 2022 (14)
Since 2022, this Indian batsman has been in top-notch form, scoring the maximum international centuries globally. This indicates his capability to play at the top level in all formats.

RECORD BREAKING DAY FOR INDIA 🇮🇳

- Rohit × Gill × Kohli × Shami in ODIs....!!!! pic.twitter.com/DwTs3hrvrG

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 21, 2025

4. Highest 5-Wicket Hauls in ICC ODI Championships (5)
It was an Indian bowler who made history as he took five 5-wicket hauls in ICC ODI cricket, showing he could give match-winning performances. by Shami 

5. India's Leading Wicket-Taker in ICC Events (72 Wickets)
Another giant milestone was achieved by the Indian bowling team when a bowler became India's top wicket-taker in ICC tournaments with 72 wickets.
ALSO READ:AFG vs SA Champions Trophy Live Streaming: Where & How to Watch the Match Online & on TV

6. Fastest to 200 ODI Wickets (5126 Balls)
An Indian pace bowler achieved a speed record by becoming the fastest to have 200 wickets in ODIs and reaching the 200th mark in just 5126 balls.

After the Indian skipper missed a sitter to deprive the left-arm spinner of a deserved hat-trick against Bangladesh on Thursday in Dubai in their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 group match, Axar Patel could be in for dinner surprise from skipper Rohit Sharma. With Shubman Gill's ton, India eventually won the match by six wickets to make a good beginning to their campaign.
Bangladesh decided to bat, but after the loss of the first three wickets in the seventh over, they were deep in trouble. Axar Patel, who came into the bowling in the ninth over, repaid the favour by getting Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Mushfiqur Rahim in his second and third balls respectively.

Rohit Sharma said - “May take Axar Patel for dinner tomorrow (smiles). No, that was an easy catch, I should have taken that catch with the standards I have set for myself. But I do know these things are bound to happen”. pic.twitter.com/UVu7dNGIR6

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) February 20, 2025

ALSO SEE: Subhman Gill Century Paves The Road To Victory For India

Rohit action and reply:
Against the hat-trick ball, Axar hit down the right channel and Jaker Ali Anik hit one to Rohit in the slip cordon. Yet, Rohit dropped an easy catch as Axar missed out on the chance of taking the hat-trick. Post the match being won by India with six wickets, Rohit said he might take the all-rounder out for dinner and also admitted that he should have taken the 'easy' catch.

“I may take him for a dinner tomorrow. That was an easy catch, I should have taken that catch, the standards I have set standing in the slips but these things happen,” Rohit was quoted as saying in the post-match presentation ceremony.

India, the two-time winners of the ICC Champions Trophy, started their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 journey with a comfortable six-wicket win against Bangladesh in the Group A match at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday (February 20).

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto chose to bat first after winning the toss. Bangladesh showed incredible fighting spirits by scoring 228 all out from 35/5, but India comfortably chased down the target in 46.3 overs after losing four wickets. While the right-arm fast bowler Mohammed Shami took a fifer, Shubman Gill scored the valuable unbeaten century.

Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali set up a memorable comeback from 35/5

India took two wickets in the first two overs of the match as Shami dismissed Soumya Sarkar (0) in the first over, and Harshit Rana took the wicket of the skipper Shanto (0) in the next over. Shami then dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz (5) in the seventh over as Shubman Gill grabbed a superb catch at the slip. On his first three balls of the match, Axar Patel took back-to-back wickets of opener Tanzid Hasan (25) and Mushfiqur Rahim (0), but the left-arm spinner just missed out on a deserving ODI hat-trick as Rohit Sharma dropped Jake Ali at slip.  

Later, Hardik Pandya also dropped Towhid Hridoy at mid-off, and both Hridoy and Ali set up a great partnership to bring Bangladesh back into the game. From the tough situation, they built up a 154-run partnership for the sixth wicket, which was also Bangladesh's highest ODI partnership for any wicket against India. 

Ultimately, Mohammed Shami broke that partnership by dismissing Ali for 68 runs (114 balls; four fours) in the 43rd over. Rishad Hossain (18 off 12 balls) had a little cameo before Harshit Rana took his wicket. Without any further partners' help, Hridoy desperately fought hard to guide Bangladesh to a challenging first innings total. Even though he was struggling with cramps, he refused to leave the field till the end. He ultimately scored his first ODI century and scored 100 off 118 balls (six fours and two sixes) at his dismissal, as Rana took his wicket to end the innings. Earlier, Shami completed his fifer by taking the wickets of Tanzim Hasan Sakib (0) and Taskin Ahmed (3).

Shami ended with the bowling figures of 10-0-53-5. Also, Harshit Rana (3/31) picked up three wickets and Axar Patel (2/43) got two wickets. 

Indian openers provided a strong start before facing tough questions

Chasing down the target, India had a good start as the openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill maintained their natural tempo. Before the Indian skipper Rohit was dismissed for 41 off 36 balls with seven fours in 9.5 overs, the openers had a 69-run partnership. However, after the first powerplay, the pitch became tougher for the batters, especially against the spinners and slower deliveries. 

After getting a cautious start, Virat Kohli lost his wicket to Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain for 22 runs. Shreyas Iyer (15) and Axar Patel (8) fell cheaply, and the chasing status moved to the tense moment. While Gill was batting calmly, the other batters, especially new batters, were struggling to control the innings. KL Rahul also had a slow start, and he got big luck as Jaker Ali dropped him at deep square leg, and Rahul utilised that luck without any further hiccup. 

Shubman Gill and KL Rahul finished the game comfortably

Slowly but steadily, Gill and Rahul guided India to a comfortable win with their solid unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 87 runs. Rahul was not out for 41 off 47 balls with one four and two sixes, and the Player of the Match Gill scored 101 not out off 129 balls with nine fours and two sixes. It was Gill's eighth but one of the memorable ODI centuries. With this century, Gill also recorded four consecutive 50+ scores in ODI and two successive ODI centuries. 

Among the Bangladesh bowlers, Rishad Hossain (2/38) was excellent along with wicketless Mehidy Hasan Miraz (0/37), while Taskin Ahmed (1/36) and Mustafizur Rahman (1/62) bagged one wicket each. They surely missed one more spinner in the squad, which could make the game more interesting.