India cruise past Pakistan by seven wickets in Asia Cup 2025 match

DUBAI: A disciplined bowling performance, followed by Abhishek Sharma’s explosive cameo, powered India to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the sixth match of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing a modest 129, India reached the target with 25 balls to spare. The innings began briskly despite Shubman Gill’s early dismissal, as Abhishek smashed 31 off just 13 deliveries – including four fours and two sixes – before falling to Saim Ayub in the fourth over.

At 41/2, Tilak Varma joined captain Suryakumar Yadav and the pair added 56 for the third wicket. Varma made a run-a-ball 31 with two fours and a six before Saim struck again in the 13th over.

Suryakumar then steered India home with an unbeaten 47 off 37 balls – his highest T20I score against Pakistan – featuring five fours and a six.

Saim Ayub was Pakistan’s only wicket-taker, claiming all three Indian scalps for 35 runs.

Earlier, Pakistan’s decision to bat first misfired as they were restricted to 127/9 in 20 overs despite Sahibzada Farhan’s resilient 40 off 44 balls (one four, three sixes).

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The Green Shirts stumbled to 6/2 within two overs, losing Saim Ayub and Mohammad Haris cheaply. Fakhar Zaman (17) added 39 for the third wicket with Farhan before a middle-order collapse left Pakistan at 64/6.

Shaheen Shah Afridi provided late fireworks with a 16-ball 33 laced with four sixes, while Faheem Ashraf (11) and Sufiyan Muqeem (10) offered brief support.

Kuldeep Yadav led India’s bowling attack with 3/18 from four overs. Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel grabbed two wickets apiece, while Varun Chakravarthy and Hardik Pandya took one each.

With this emphatic win, India strengthened their position in the tournament, while Pakistan will look to regroup ahead of their next fixture.