Dubai, September 14, 2025: India cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in their Asia Cup 2025 encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, chasing down a modest 128-run target with 25 balls to spare.
Set 128 to win, India overcame an early setback when Shubman Gill departed in the second over. Abhishek Sharma seized control of the chase with a blistering 31 off just 13 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes, before falling to Saim Ayub in the fourth over. His fireworks set the tone despite India slipping to 41/2.
Tilak Varma (31 off 31) then combined with captain Suryakumar Yadav for a steady 56-run stand that kept India ahead. Though Varma was dismissed by Saim in the 13th over, Suryakumar remained composed, guiding his team to victory with an unbeaten 47 off 37 balls, featuring five fours and a six — his highest T20I score against Pakistan.
Saim Ayub was the lone bright spot for Pakistan with the ball, claiming all three Indian wickets at the cost of 35 runs.
Earlier, Pakistan’s decision to bat first backfired as they managed only 127/9 in 20 overs. The innings faltered after early blows, with Saim Ayub (0) and Mohammad Haris (3) dismissed cheaply by Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah.
Fakhar Zaman (17) and Sahibzada Farhan attempted to steady the ship with a 39-run stand, but Fakhar’s dismissal to Axar Patel triggered a middle-order collapse, leaving Pakistan reeling at 64/6.
Farhan top-scored with a gritty 40 off 44 balls (one four, three sixes) before falling to Kuldeep Yadav in the 17th over. A late flourish from Shaheen Shah Afridi, who smashed four sixes in a rapid 33 off 16 deliveries, lifted Pakistan past the 120-mark. Faheem Ashraf (11) and Sufiyan Muqeem (10) also chipped in with small cameos.
India’s bowlers dominated throughout, with Kuldeep Yadav leading the way (3/18). Bumrah and Axar picked up two wickets apiece, while Pandya and Varun Chakravarthy shared one each.
The emphatic win further extends India’s dominance in T20I head-to-head clashes with Pakistan, now standing at 11-3.
