Dubai, September 14 – India registered a commanding seven-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the much-anticipated Asia Cup 2025 group stage clash at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. The Men in Blue chased down a modest target of 128 with 25 balls to spare, showcasing their dominance in all departments of the game.
After Pakistan opted to bat first, their innings struggled for momentum against India’s disciplined bowling attack. Openers failed to provide the aggressive start they needed, with Fakhar Zaman managing 17 runs off 15 balls before falling to Jasprit Bumrah. Sahibzada Farhan held one end but his cautious 40 off 44 deliveries consumed valuable time in the powerplay and middle overs.
India’s spinners and seamers combined to choke Pakistan’s batting unit. Kuldeep Yadav was the standout bowler, weaving his magic with a clinical spell of 3/18 in four overs. Axar Patel’s economical figures of 2/18 also added pressure, while Bumrah chipped in with 2/28 to break partnerships at crucial moments.
The only real resistance came late in the innings from Shaheen Afridi, who played a fiery cameo of 33* from just 16 balls, smashing two sixes and three boundaries. His late flourish pushed Pakistan to 127/9 in 20 overs, but it was far from enough against India’s powerful batting line-up.
Chasing 128, India made a brisk start. Young opener Abhishek Sharma set the tone with an explosive 31 from 13 balls, striking boundaries all around the park before being dismissed. Tilak Varma provided stability in the middle with a composed 31 off 31 deliveries, ensuring the scoreboard kept ticking.
The finishing touches were applied by Suryakumar Yadav, who anchored the innings with an unbeaten 47 from 37 balls. His strokeplay combined flair and control, guiding India past the target in just 15.5 overs. Pakistan’s bowlers looked helpless, with only Saim Ayub managing 3/35 in his four-over spell. None of the senior bowlers, including Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed, could make a significant impact.
With this emphatic win, India not only gained two vital points but also boosted their net run rate, a key factor in the race to the Asia Cup semi-finals. For Pakistan, the defeat was a setback as their batting frailties once again came to the fore, despite their spirited bowling efforts.
The Dubai crowd witnessed another chapter in the storied India-Pakistan rivalry, but this time, it was India who walked away with bragging rights, extending their dominance in multi-nation tournaments.
India will now look forward to carrying this winning momentum into their next group match, while Pakistan face an uphill battle to revive their campaign.
