Dubai, September 21, 2025: Left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma’s blistering half-century powered India to a commanding six-wicket win over Pakistan in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing 172, the Men in Blue reached the target with seven balls to spare, finishing at 172/4.
India’s reply got off to a dream start as Abhishek and Shubman Gill stitched together a 105-run opening stand inside 10 overs. Gill contributed a brisk 47 off 28 deliveries, hitting eight boundaries, before Faheem Ashraf broke the partnership.
Pakistan then struck twice in quick succession, Haris Rauf removed skipper Suryakumar Yadav for a duck, while Abrar Ahmed dismissed Sharma after his explosive 74 off just 39 balls, which featured six fours and five sixes.
At 123/3, India appeared to wobble, but Tilak Varma (30 off 19) held firm, adding 25 runs with wicketkeeper Sanju Samson (13) before the latter fell to Haris. Varma then guided India home, supported by Hardik Pandya (7).
Haris Rauf was the standout bowler for Pakistan with 2/26 in four overs, while Faheem and Abrar claimed one wicket each.
Earlier, put into bat, Pakistan posted 171/5 in their 20 overs. Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman added 21 runs before Fakhar (15 off 9) was controversially adjudged out off Hardik Pandya in the third over.
Farhan anchored the innings with a fine 58 off 45 balls (five fours, three sixes). He shared a 72-run stand with Saim Ayub (21 off 17) before both fell in successive spells to Shivam Dube, who later ended with two key wickets.
Brief cameos from Hussain Talat (10) and Mohammad Nawaz (21 off 19) added stability, while skipper Salman Ali Agha (17 off 13) and Faheem Ashraf (20 off 8; two sixes, one four) provided late momentum.
For India, Dube led the attack with 2 wickets, while Kuldeep Yadav and Pandya chipped in with one apiece.
