Abhishek blitz powers India past Pakistan in tense Asia Cup Super-Four clash

• India chase 172 with six wickets in hand as handshake row lingers despite Pakistan’s fiery buildup
• Pakistan’s promising start undone by mid-innings collapse, Agha admits team was ‘15 runs short’ despite spirited effort

DUBAI: India outclassed Pakistan by six wickets to chase down a 172-run target with remarkable ease in their second high-voltage Asia Cup Super-Four encounter at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, a contest that again simmered with tensions off the pitch amid the ongoing handshake controversy.

Player-of-the-match Abhishek Sharma blazed 74 runs off just 39 balls, taking full advantage of an early reprieve when he was dropped in Shaheen Shah Afridi’s second over. His knock set the tone for India’s record chase against Pakistan in men’s T20 internationals, despite Pakistan’s spirited batting effort earlier in the evening.

The victory, however, was overshadowed by the bitterness between the archrivals that has spilled over from their previous encounter. Sharma himself reflected the mood at the post-match ceremony, remarking, “The way they were coming at us for no reason, I didn’t like it at all—this was my only answer, with the bat.”

Pakistan’s strong batting start undone by mid-innings collapse

Sent in to bat, Pakistan posted 171-5—their highest first-innings score against India in men’s T20Is—riding on aggressive starts from Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan. Fakhar’s dismissal, however, sparked controversy after television replays suggested the ball may not have carried cleanly to the keeper, though the third umpire adjudged him out.

Sahibzada anchored the innings with a fluent half-century, supported by cameos from skipper Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Nawaz. At 91-1 after 10 overs, Pakistan looked poised for a total beyond 190, but the Indian bowlers—led by Shivam Dube—staged a comeback, strangling the scoring rate for 39 balls without a boundary.

.@RealSahibzada top-scores with 58 while @iFaheemAshraf‘s fiery cameo at the end lifts Pakistan to 171-5 💥#PAKvIND | #AsiaCup2025 | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/zZU6DA8iqN

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 21, 2025

Pakistan finished with a flourish, Faheem Ashraf striking a six off the final ball to set India 172 for victory.

India’s chase powered by Abhishek, steady middle order

In reply, Abhishek and Shubman Gill (36) launched India’s innings with a rapid 83-run opening stand. Despite the dismissal of Gill, skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma ensured momentum never shifted. Though Pakistan briefly rallied through Haris Rauf’s fiery spell—removing Yadav and later Sanju Samson—India’s lower middle order held firm.

Tilak Verma’s composed 30* and Hardik Pandya’s brisk cameo carried India to 174-4 in 19 overs.

Captains reflect on contrasting fortunes

Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha admitted his side fell short in the second half of the game. “We batted really well, but I think when it came to the bowling, they took the game away in the powerplay. Maybe we were 15 runs short,” he said.

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav praised his team’s resilience, noting that their preparation and “shutting out outside noise” had been key in handling the pressure.

Handshake row continues to cast shadow

The clash came just a week after India’s refusal to shake hands following their group-stage win, an episode that sparked political and sporting controversy. Match referee Andy Pycroft, whom the Pakistan Cricket Board had unsuccessfully sought to remove, again officiated.

Although both teams lined up for the anthems without incident, post-match tensions persisted, with Sharma’s comments suggesting the rivalry remains raw. Pakistan had even cancelled their pre-match press conference amid the dispute, while the PCB confirmed Pycroft had apologised earlier in the week over what it termed a “miscommunication.”

Road ahead

Despite the defeat, Pakistan remain in contention for a place in the final, with one more potential showdown with India looming next Sunday. India, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten run in the tournament, having already defeated Oman and the UAE in the group stage.

As the dust settles on another fiery contest, cricket fans across the region may yet see these archrivals clash again for the Asia Cup title—with bat, ball, and emotions all running high.