Key Points:
- Result: India defeated Pakistan by 6 wickets in the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 match.
- Man of the Match: Abhishek Sharma for his explosive 74 runs off just 39 balls.
- Decisive Partnership: Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill put on a blistering 105-run opening stand in under 10 overs.
- Target: India successfully chased Pakistan’s target of 172 with 7 balls to spare, finishing in 18.5 overs.
- Key Quote: Abhishek Sharma stated he gave the Pakistani bowlers “medicine” with his bat in response to their on-field aggression.
- Bowling Star: Shivam Dube was crucial with the ball, taking 2/33 to restrict Pakistan’s total.
New Delhi: Team India secured a commanding 6-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2025, marking their second dominant win against the arch-rivals in the tournament. The architect of the victory was opener Abhishek Sharma, who was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his blistering knock of 74 from 39 balls, an innings that included six fours and five massive sixes.
Chasing a competitive target of 172, Sharma and his opening partner Shubman Gill (47 off 28 balls) laid the foundation for the win with a destructive 105-run partnership in just 59 balls. Their onslaught dismantled the Pakistani bowling attack early on, ensuring the required run rate remained well within control throughout the chase.
“Gave Them Medicine”: Sharma on On-Field Tensions
The match was not without its heated moments, as Abhishek Sharma was seen in intense verbal exchanges with Pakistani pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf. After the match, Sharma addressed the confrontation directly and didn’t hold back.
“Today it was very simple. The way they (Pakistani bowlers) were coming at us, I didn’t like it at all, and this was the only way I could give medicine to them,” Sharma said, explaining that he answered their aggression with his bat.
Speaking on his successful partnership with Shubman Gill, he added, “I’ve been playing with Shubman since school days. I’ve been waiting for a partnership like this with him for a long time. The team is encouraging me to play my natural, aggressive game, even though it involves a lot of risk”.
How the Match Unfolded
Earlier, India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl first. Pakistan got off to a strong start, powered by a solid half-century from Sahibzada Farhan, who scored 58 runs. At the halfway mark, Pakistan was well-placed at 91/1 and looked set for a total near 190.
However, India’s bowlers, led by Shivam Dube (2/33), pulled things back brilliantly in the middle overs. Dube’s crucial breakthroughs stalled Pakistan’s momentum, restricting them to 171/5 in their 20 overs. Despite the strong bowling comeback, India’s fielding was subpar, with the team dropping as many as five catches.
In the chase, after the explosive opening stand, India experienced a minor wobble, losing Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (0), and Sanju Samson (13) in the middle overs. However, Tilak Varma (30*) and Hardik Pandya ensured there were no further alarms as they calmly guided India home in 18.5 overs, with Varma finishing the match in style.
