Saturday, March 29, 2025
Dubai, September 22, 2025 – India delivered a commanding performance in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four stage, defeating Pakistan by six wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Chasing a target of 172, India wrapped up the match with seven balls to spare, thanks to a blazing start by Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill.
Abhishek Sharma (74 off 39 balls, 6 fours, 5 sixes) was named Player of the Match for his explosive innings. Partnering with Shubman Gill (47 off 28 balls, 8 fours), the duo stitched together a 105-run stand for the first wicket, dismantling Pakistan’s bowling attack in the powerplay.
By the end of six overs, India had already piled up 69 runs, a blow Pakistan never recovered from. Captain Salman Agha admitted after the defeat, “India snatched the match from us in the first six overs. That powerplay completely shifted momentum.”
After losing the toss and being asked to bat, Pakistan posted 171/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Sahibzada Farhan led the scoring with a half-century (58 off 45), while Sam Ayub added 21 and skipper Salman Agha contributed 17. Fakhar Zaman looked aggressive with 15 runs off 9 balls, hitting three boundaries before falling to Hardik Pandya.
Farhan and Ayub built a 72-run partnership for the second wicket, but Shivam Dube’s breakthrough in the 11th over triggered a slowdown. Faheem Ashraf added a quick 20, but Pakistan ultimately fell 10–15 runs short of what their captain believed was a winning total.
Speaking candidly, Agha said:
“We haven’t played a complete match yet, but we are moving in that direction. Looking at our position after 10 overs, we should have pushed to 180. India batted superbly in the powerplay, and that was the difference. In T20 cricket, when bowlers go for runs, you must adapt quickly.”
He, however, highlighted positives: “The way Farhan and Fakhar batted, and how Haris Rauf bowled, were strong points for us. We are now looking forward to our next clash against Sri Lanka on September 23.”
For Pakistan, pacer Haris Rauf was the standout, taking 2 wickets for 26 runs, though the early Indian onslaught left him and the other bowlers struggling for control.
