Dubai: Abhishek Sharma smashed a scintillating 74 off 39 balls after some fine restrictive bowling by the spinners as India clinched a six-wicket victory over Pakistan in a Super Fours clash of the 2025 Men’s T20 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The result also marked India’s highest successful chase against Pakistan in T20Is, as the reigning world champions maintained their unbeaten run in the competition. Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with 58, while Faheem Ashraf added late impetus with an unbeaten 20 off eight balls, as Pakistan posted 171/5 in their 20 overs.
Pakistan looked set to get a much bigger total after racing to 91/1 in the first 10 overs, with Sahibzada Farhan, who hit 58, sharing a 72-run stand with Saim Ayub for the second wicket. But Pakistan lost momentum once Shivam Dube was introduced into the attack.
Dube, along with Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, applied the brakes effectively to stifle Pakistan’s scoring, as only 38 runs were made between overs 11 and 17. Though Pakistan did recover some ground in the final three overs, yielding 42 runs, it still gave the feel of an underwhelming total.
India’s pursuit of 172 began with intent as Abhishek hooked the very first ball from Shaheen Shah Afridi for six, setting the tone for a dominant chase. Alongside Shubman Gill, who hit a brisk 47 off 28 deliveries, the duo stitched a match-defining 105-run opening stand that left Pakistan searching for answers.
Despite a brief lull, Tilak Varma ensured a smooth finish to the chase with an unbeaten 30 off 19 balls, as India reached home with seven balls to spare. Both Varma and Pandya quietly walked off without shaking hands with the Pakistani side and entered the Indian dressing room, full of jubilation.
India’s chase began on the front foot as Abhishek hooked Shaheen Shah Afridi’s bouncer over fine leg for six. Gill got going by sweeping and cutting Saim Ayub for consecutive boundaries before lofting and flaying Afridi for another brace of fours.
Tension simmered when Gill pointed towards Afridi at the end of the third over, indicating where he had just struck him. Abhishek then tore into Abrar Ahmed, pulling and swinging for four and six, before both openers picked up a boundary each off Rauf.
With India needing only 49 off 46 balls, Varma and Sanju Samson hung around to keep the scoreboard ticking. Though a scratchy Samson was castled by Rauf, Tilak and Hardik Pandya nudged the ball around calmly for boundaries to take India home.
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India defeat Bangladesh, enter final Dubai: Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 75, backed by disciplined spells from Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, powered India to a dominant victory over Bangladesh, sealing their spot in the Asia Cup final. Chasing a target of 169 that India set, Bangladesh were bundled out for 127 in 19.3 overs. Bumrah made an immediate impact, removing Tanzid Hasan Tamim for just one run, as India tightened the screws and gained early control while defending a 169-run target. Sharma blazed his way to 75 off just 37 balls, but India’s middle-order couldn’t capitalise, leaving the team at a modest 168/6 against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup Super 4 clash. Sharma had earlier combined with Shubman Gill (29) for a rapid 77-run opening stand in 6.2 overs. |
