Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill put on a scintillating show of strokeplay at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday (September 22, 2025) to extend India’s imposing record against Pakistan in T20Is.

IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 highlights

Having beaten the arch-rival by seven wickets in a Group-A meeting of the Asia Cup last weekend, the margin of victory was six wickets on this occasion as the Men in Blue chased down 172 in 18.5 overs to kick off the Super Four phase on the perfect note.

Also Read | Pakistan calls off pre-match media interaction; Pycroft to officiate in marquee clash

Abhishek (74, 39b, 6×4, 5×6) and Gill (47, 28b, 8×4), the best of mates since their under-12 days in Punjab, treated the spectators to a spellbinding mixture of exquisite timing and brutal hitting in an opening stand worth 105 runs. That the two batters engaged in fiery verbal exchanges with the Pakistan bowlers reflected the tension amid the handshake row that erupted last Sunday. The players did not exchange handshakes before or after this game either.

Abhishek, as is his wont, started the chase with a pull off Shaheen Afridi that went for six. Whether it was pace from Afridi and Haris Rauf or spin from Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub thereafter, the Indian openers effortlessly dispatched the big hits. The left-handed Abhishek would bring up his fifty with a drive off Saim through cover for four.

By the time Faheem Ashraf’s inducker dislodged Gill’s stumps in the 10th over, India was well on its way to victory — its seventh in a row against Pakistan in white-ball cricket. While Abhishek departed a little later, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya saw the chase through.

In Pakistan’s total of 171 for five, Sahibzada Farhan was the main contributor with a 45-ball 58. Shivam Dube was the pick of the Indian bowlers with figures of 4-0-33-2. Jasprit Bumrah, who conceded 45 runs, had a rare off-day.

India’s catching on the day was off the mark. While Abhishek dropped Farhan on zero, Kuldeep Yadav offered a reprieve to Saim at short fine leg. Farhan and Saim went on to stitch a 72-run alliance for the second wicket. Gill was guilty of dropping Faheem in the 19th over.

Pakistan had the better of the early exchanges. Greater attacking intent, in sync with the requirements of the format, took it to 55 for one after six overs — its highest-ever score against India in the PowerPlay in T20Is.

Once Fakhar Zaman departed after a brisk start, Farhan took charge by notably dictating terms against Bumrah. Four fours from the 29-year-old’s willow, via a disdainful drive and some pugnacious pulls, meant the spearhead was taken for 34 runs in his first three overs. In the previous encounter, the Indian spinners had squeezed the Pakistan batters through the middle phase. But Farhan and Saim didn’t quite allow the spin triumvirate to get on top.

The stand was eventually broken by Dube in the 11th over. The breakthrough helped India pull things back nicely in the second half of the innings. The medium-pacer from Mumbai snared his second scalp when the well-set Farhan skied an off-cutter to Suryakumar Yadav at cover in the 15th over. It contributed to another emphatic win by the end of the night.

A nervy evening at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium turned into a night of celebration for India as Suryakumar Yadav’s team maintained its stranglehold over Pakistan. In a Group-A battle of the arch-rivals at the Asia Cup on Sunday (September 14, 2025), India strolled to a target of 128 in 15.5 overs with seven wickets in hand to virtually seal qualification for the Super Four phase. Post victory, the two teams did not exchange customary handshakes.

Also read: India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2025 highlights

The crushing triumph was set up by the Indian bowlers, who restricted Salman Agha’s men to 127 for nine in 20 overs. Shaheen Afridi’s unbeaten 33 off 16 balls at No. 9 was the lone silver lining for Pakistan with the bat.

India’s crafty attack was at its very best. Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav was again the ace in the pack with figures of 4-0-18-3, and was ably assisted by Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah.

The job was completed by India’s formidable batting unit. The chase began with Abhishek Sharma thumping Shaheen for a four and six. Shubman Gill also struck successive boundaries against Saim Ayub, who claimed three wickets, before being stumped. Abhishek went on to hammer a 13-ball 31 as India motored to 42 for two in four overs.

With the asking rate in control, the rest of the batters did not have to do anything daft. Suryakumar did as required with an unbeaten 47 off 37 balls.

For the Indian fans to break into thunderous applause at the start of the game, it took no time. Off the first legitimate delivery of the game, Hardik Pandya dismissed Saim as his airy drive spooned to Bumrah at backward point. Next over, Hardik sprinted from fine leg and held onto a skier from Mohammad Haris to give Bumrah his opening breakthrough.

On a sluggish surface, Fakhar Zaman tried to play the role of aggressor. Twice in the third over, he got Hardik away for boundaries.

At the other end, Sahibzada Farhan clumped Bumrah for two sixes before the field restrictions eased. Yet, Pakistan had ambled along to 42 for two in six overs with Farhan at a run-a-ball 19.

With the desperation of the Pakistan batters mounting, it was easy to foretell Fakhar’s attempted slog when Axar came into the attack in the eighth over. To the latter’s credit, he gave the ball a bit of air and drew the left-hand batter into a miscue that carried to long-on. In his very next over, Axar would also trap Salman in his net.

Not much of a revival was in store for the Pakistanis as wickets kept tumbling. Kuldeep joined the jamboree with back-to-back breakthroughs of Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Nawaz, reducing the rival to 64 for six in 12.5 overs.

Considering India’s firm grip on proceedings, Pakistan’s ambition in the latter overs was limited to looking for a fighting total.

Hopes were pinned on Farhan, but after a subpar 40, he succumbed off his 44th delivery for Kuldeep’s third scalp of the innings.