- Kuldeep spins web with 3-18 as Pakistan fold for 127
- Abhishek’s fireworks and Suryakumar’s calm seal India’s chase in 16 overs
- Pakistan batters consume 63 dot balls in disappointing show
DUBAI: Explosive hitting by opener Abhishek Sharma 31 (13) and a calm unbeaten knock from captain Suryakumar Yadav 47 (37) guided India to a comfortable six-wicket win over Pakistan in their T20I Asia Cup 2025 encounter at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday night.
The victory, sealed in the 16th over while chasing 128, lifted India to the top of Group A with four points from two matches.
Chasing a modest 127-9, India got off to a flying start as Abhishek Sharma took the attack to Shaheen Shah Afridi, hammering 23 runs off his first two overs, including two sixes and as many fours. His partner Shubman Gill made 10 (7) before being stumped smartly by Mohammad Haris off Saim Ayub. Abhishek’s fireworks ended at 31 (13) when he was caught at long-on, again off Saim Ayub, while attempting to finish the game early.
Tilak Varma 31 (31) then joined captain Suryakumar Yadav in a steady 56-run stand that took India close to victory. Tilak fell to Saim Ayub, the pick of Pakistan’s bowlers with 3-35, but Yadav ensured there were no jitters. Shivam Dube chipped in with an unbeaten 10 (7) as India crossed the line with ease. Spinner Abrar Ahmed was the most economical for Pakistan, conceding just 16 runs in his four overs, while Shaheen Afridi went for 23 runs in his two overs without a wicket.
Earlier, Pakistan’s batting faltered after opting to bat first on a sluggish surface. Opener Sahibzada Farhan anchored with 40 (44), hitting three sixes and a four, but lacked support from the other end. The innings collapsed to 49-4 after captain Salman Agha 3 (12) fell cheaply.
Pakistan lost two wickets in the first eight balls — Saim Ayub 0 (1) fell to Hardik Pandya on the very first delivery, while Mohammad Haris 3 (5) was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah. Fakhar Zaman contributed 17 (15), but the middle order failed to build momentum. Hassan Nawaz 5 (7), Mohammad Nawaz 0 (1), and Faheem Ashraf 11 (14) all fell cheaply.
Shaheen Afridi’s late cameo of 33 (16), featuring three sixes and two fours, lifted Pakistan to 127-9, preventing an even lower total. Sufiyan Muqeem also chipped in with 10 (6).
India’s bowlers dominated the innings, with Kuldeep Yadav earning Player of the Match honors for his 3-18, including back-to-back wickets of Hassan Nawaz and Mohammad Nawaz. Axar Patel picked 2-18, Varun Chakravarthy claimed 1-24, while Bumrah grabbed 2-28 and Hardik Pandya 1-34. Abhishek Sharma also bowled a miserly over for just five runs.
Pakistan’s struggles were summed up by the 63 dot balls they faced, highlighting disciplined Indian bowling and poor shot selection.
