India convincingly defeated Pakistan by 6 wickets in a Super Four clash of the Asia Cup 2025 held at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. The victory, propelled by an explosive opening partnership, saw India chase down Pakistan's total of 171/5 in just 18.5 overs.
Abhishek Sharma was named Player of the Match for his scintillating knock of 74 runs from 39 balls. Sharma's innings, which included six fours and five sixes, set the tone for the chase and completely overwhelmed the Pakistani bowlers. Shubman Gill, Sharma's opening partner, contributed a solid 47 off 28 balls, featuring eight boundaries. Together, they forged a 105-run partnership in just 8.4 overs, making the chase look easy. Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 30 off 19 balls, ensuring India reached the target despite a brief stumble in the middle order.
Earlier in the match, Pakistan's innings was built around Sahibzada Farhan's 58 off 45 balls. Farhan's innings, which included five fours and three sixes, helped Pakistan recover from the early loss of Fakhar Zaman. A late surge by Faheem Ashraf (20 off 8) helped Pakistan reach a total of 171/5. Shivam Dube was the pick of the Indian bowlers, taking 2 wickets for 33 runs.
Despite the comfortable victory, India's fielding was a concern, with fielders dropping multiple catches. Jasprit Bumrah had a rare off day, finishing with 0/45, his third-most expensive spell in T20Is. Suryakumar Yadav acknowledged the dropped catches but praised Dube for bailing the team out of the situation.
The match wasn't without its share of drama. Farhan's aggressive celebration after reaching his half-century, where he mimicked firing an AK-47, sparked controversy and divided opinions on social media. There was also visible tension between the players, a departure from the usual friendly camaraderie seen between the two teams.
"The way the boys are stepping up in every game, it's making my job very easy," said Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav after the match. He also lauded the composure shown by the team after the first 10 overs of Pakistan's innings. Pakistan captain Salman Agha admitted that India had taken the game away in the powerplay and that his team was still searching for the perfect game.
The win puts India at the top of the Super 4s points table. Pakistan will need to win their next match against Sri Lanka to stay in contention for a place in the final. India will play Bangladesh in their next Super Four match.
Social media was abuzz with reactions to the match. Some fans praised India's dominant performance, while others criticized Pakistan's performance and fielding. There were also reactions to Bumrah's expensive spell, with some questioning the decision to use him for three overs in the powerplay. Some fans were also teasing Haris Rauf with Virat Kohli's name. Irfan Pathan and other cricketers also shared their thoughts on the game.
