India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2025 Highlights: India chase down Pakistan’s 127, Suryakumar Yadav seals victory with a six

Abhishek Sharma continues his blistering form, striking back-to-back boundaries off Saim Ayub. On the first delivery of the over, he created room and lofted one over cover despite Ayub’s attempt to cramp him on middle and leg. The very next ball, Ayub shifted wide outside off, but Abhishek lashed it fiercely in front of point, leaving the bowler with no answers.

At the end of the third over, India reached 33/1, with Abhishek Sharma continuing his aggressive start, scoring 23 off just 9 balls, including two boundaries and two sixes. Suryakumar Yadav is yet to get off the mark, while Shaheen Shah Afridi has conceded 23 runs in his two overs. Saim Ayub picked up the early wicket of Shubman Gill, keeping Pakistan in the hunt.

Abhishek Sharma followed his earlier boundary with a spectacular six off Shaheen Shah Afridi. Timing it perfectly, he launched the ball over the ropes with a sensational pick-up shot, giving India a strong start in the chase.

Abhishek Sharma quickly got India back on track with a crisp boundary off Shaheen Shah Afridi. Lashing a full delivery over the point region, he made full use of the width on offer, ensuring the scoreboard continued ticking despite Shubman Gill’s early departure.

India suffered an early setback as Shubman Gill fell for 10. Attempting to build on his quick start, Gill was stumped by Mohammad Haris off Saim Ayub’s bowling. He faced just seven balls, hitting two boundaries before being dismissed, leaving India with an early challenge in their chase.

Shubman Gill came alive against Saim Ayub, smashing a well-timed four. Charging out of his crease, Gill met the ball where it pitched and hammered it down to long-on, showcasing intent and precision. Ayub’s line, angled to cramp the right-hander, failed to stop him as he found the boundary with ease.

After the first over, India are 12/0 with a brisk start. Abhishek Sharma has dominated Shaheen Shah Afridi’s opening over, scoring 11 runs off just 4 balls, including a four and a six. Shubman Gill is yet to get going, on 1 from 2 balls, but the run rate is already a healthy 12.00.

Just the next ball, Abhishek Sharma goes big, sending Shaheen Shah Afridi’s delivery flying over cover for a maximum. India’s chase begins with fireworks.

Shaheen Shah Afridi delivers a good-length ball, but Abhishek Sharma cuts it cleanly for four runs. India gets off to a positive start in the chase.

Salman Agha did say he needed all the spinners he could get his hands on, and considering how Pakistan’s first innings unfolded, he was spot on. Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel combined to take 5 wickets for 36 runs from eight overs.

Will Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem be able to match that? The challenge they face is the lack of scoreboard pressure. India’s batters could play them out and still chase down the target, though that’s not typically how they approach games.

All eyes will be on Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill against Shaheen Shah Afridi first up. Regardless of the overall match situation, this individual battle promises plenty of excitement for fans.

In their last eight T20Is, India has showcased their lethal bowling attack by dismissing opponents completely on five occasions, while restricting the other three teams to just one wicket short of being bowled out.

Given the target of 128 runs in 20 overs, India looks well-placed to chase it. The pitch has shown to favor teams batting second in Dubai, and India’s lineup is packed with experienced T20 finishers like Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Shubman Gill.

If India’s top and middle order gets off to a solid start and avoids early wickets, chasing 128 shouldn’t be too challenging. However, Pakistan’s spinners—Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel—and pacers like Bumrah and Pandya will still pose threats, especially in the middle overs.

In short, India is the favourite, but early wickets or a tight over from Pakistan could spice things up.

Shaheen Shah Afridi was Pakistan’s standout performer with the bat, facing 16 deliveries—the second-most in the innings. While brief, his hitting gave Pakistan some late impetus in an otherwise difficult innings.

It was a tough outing for Pakistan for the bulk of their innings, but a quickfire cameo from Shaheen Shah Afridi pushed them to a modest total of 127. India’s spinners were clinical as expected, while Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya struck early to keep the visitors under control. Overall, India dominated most of the innings, restricting Pakistan’s scoring opportunities and maintaining a firm grip on the game.

Shaheen Shah Afridi keeps the scoreboard ticking with a well-placed two off the last ball of the over.

Shaheen Shah Afridi continues his onslaught, smashing a full toss for another six off Hardik Pandya. Pakistan gains crucial late momentum in the innings.

Shaheen Shah Afridi makes his presence felt with a powerful six off Hardik Pandya, sending the ball soaring over the boundary.

Bumrah strikes again as Sufiyan Muqeem is bowled, sending the bails flying. The young batsman’s cameo of 10 runs off 6 balls, including 2 boundaries, comes to an end.

Shaheen Shah Afridi nudges the ball into the leg side for a single, keeping the scoreboard ticking. The effort adds a crucial run for Pakistan as they try to build a late-innings total.

Sufiyan Muqeem gets off the mark with a solid shot, smashing a boundary off Jasprit Bumrah. The right-hander flicks the delivery with timing, sending it racing to the fence for four runs.

Pakistan adds 9 runs in the 18th over but loses a wicket as Shaheen Shah Afridi continues his aggressive hitting. Sufiyan Muqeem joins at the crease with just 1 run off 1 ball. Varun Chakravarthy finishes the over with figures of 4-0-24-1, while Kuldeep Yadav has taken 3 wickets for 18 runs in his 4 overs.

Varun Chakravarthy’s appeal for LBW is given out after Pakistan uses their final review. The batsman has to walk back, adding to India’s tally of wickets.

Shaheen Shah Afridi responds immediately, smashing a six over long-off off Varun Chakravarthy. Pakistan looks to rebuild after a flurry of wickets.

Pakistan manages just 7 runs in the 17th over but loses a wicket. Kuldeep Yadav strikes again, dismissing Sahibzada Farhan for 40.

Shaheen Shah Afridi unleashes a powerful slog sweep over the boundary, clearing Kuldeep Yadav for six.

Sahibzada Farhan’s valiant innings comes to an end as he is caught by Hardik Pandya off Kuldeep Yadav. Farhan scored 40 runs off 44 balls, hitting 1 four and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 90.9.

Pakistan adds 5 runs in the over as Faheem Ashraf moves to 11 off 12 balls, while Sahibzada Farhan reaches 40 off 43. Varun Chakravarthy concedes 3 runs in this over, and Kuldeep Yadav remains economical with 3-0-11-2.

Faheem Ashraf strikes a fullish delivery down the leg side, executing a fine sweep to add 3 runs to Pakistan’s total.

Pakistan added 6 runs in the 15th over, with Faheem Ashraf on 8 off 8 balls and Sahibzada Farhan reaching 38 off 41. Kuldeep Yadav has figures of 3-0-11-2, while Axar Patel has 4-0-18-2.

Faheem Ashraf punished a wayward delivery from Kuldeep Yadav for four runs, capitalizing on a loose ball to keep the scoreboard ticking for Pakistan.