Doha, Qatar – Ripon Mondol became an overnight sensation as his Super Over heroics propelled Bangladesh A to a thrilling victory over India A in the semi-final of the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025. The young pacer's sensational performance has been met with widespread acclaim, with netizens hailing him as the star of the match.
The semi-final clash, held at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Friday, November 21, was a nail-biting affair that saw fortunes swing dramatically. Bangladesh A, after being put in to bat first, posted a competitive total of 194/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Habibur Rahman Sohan anchored the innings with a well-composed 65 off 46 balls, while SM Meherob Hasan provided the late fireworks with a blistering 48* off just 18 deliveries, smashing six towering sixes.
India A's chase mirrored the intensity of Bangladesh's innings. Vaibhav Suryavanshi provided an explosive start, scoring 38 off just 15 balls. Priyansh Arya kept the momentum going with a quickfire 44 off 23. However, disciplined bowling from Bangladesh, particularly from Rakibul Hasan and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, stemmed the flow of runs and led to regular wickets.
The match went down to the wire, with India needing 16 runs off the final over. Rakibul Hasan bowled five excellent deliveries, but a misfield on the last ball allowed India to steal three runs and tie the scores, forcing a Super Over.
In the Super Over, India A faltered miserably, losing both Jitesh Sharma and Ashutosh Sharma for ducks to Ripon Mondol's sensational bowling. India A were all out for zero. Defending just one run, Suyash Sharma dismissed Yasir Ali on the first ball, but then bowled a wide down the leg side, handing Bangladesh A the winning run and a place in the final.
Ripon Mondol's outstanding performance in the Super Over earned him the Player of the Match award. Netizens flooded social media with praise for the young seamer, lauding his composure and skill under pressure. His figures in the main match were 1/35 in 4 overs. He is also among the top wicket takers in the tournament.
Bangladesh A will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Pakistan A and Sri Lanka A in the final. Their remarkable victory over India A was a testament to their fighting spirit and ability to perform under pressure, with Ripon Mondol's Super Over heroics etching his name into cricketing folklore.
