India pulled off a thrilling six-wicket win over Pakistan in the Super Fours stage of the 2025 Men’s T20 Asia Cup at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Abhishek Sharma stole the show with a blazing 74 off 39 balls, helping the reigning world champions chase down 172 and keep their unbeaten streak alive in the tournament. This victory marks India’s highest successful chase against Pakistan in T20Is.
Pakistan started strong, racing to 91/1 in the first 10 overs thanks to Sahibzada Farhan’s top score of 58. He built a solid 72-run partnership with Saim Ayub for the second wicket and used smart footwork to dominate, especially against Jasprit Bumrah, who leaked 34 runs in his early overs. Faheem Ashraf added fireworks at the end with an unbeaten 20 off eight balls, pushing Pakistan to 171/5 in 20 overs.
But India’s spinners turned the game around. Shivam Dube, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav choked Pakistan’s middle order, allowing just 38 runs in overs 11 to 17. Even though Pakistan grabbed 42 runs in the last three overs, their total felt short. Dube finished with 2-33, while Hardik Pandya took 1-29.
In the chase, India attacked from the start. Abhishek hooked Shaheen Shah Afridi’s first ball for six, and he paired with Shubman Gill for a game-changing 105-run opening stand. Gill smashed 47 off 28 balls, including sweeps and cuts against Saim Ayub and Afridi. They powered India to 69/0 in the powerplay—the best in the tournament so far.
Abhishek reached his fifty in just 24 balls, hammering two sixes off Abrar Ahmed and driving boundaries with ease. Pakistan fought back after the drinks break, with Faheem Ashraf bowling Gill for 47 and Haris Rauf catching Suryakumar Yadav for a low score. Abhishek fell soon after, holing out for 74 off Abrar.
Needing 49 off 46, Tilak Varma stepped up with an unbeaten 30 off 19 balls. He and Sanju Samson kept things steady, though Rauf castled Samson. Varma then teamed with Hardik Pandya to nudge singles and boundaries, sealing the win with seven balls left. The Indian players celebrated jubilantly in the dressing room, skipping handshakes with Pakistan.
Farhan’s knock anchored Pakistan’s innings—he flicked boundaries off Bumrah and slog-swept Chakaravarthy. He survived an early drop by Abhishek off Pandya and hit his fifty in 34 balls with a massive six off Axar Patel. But India struck back: Ayub top-edged to Abhishek off Dube, Hussain Talat fell to Kuldeep, and Farhan holed out trying to clear the infield.
Pakistan’s lower order sparked hope with Salman Agha’s six off Kuldeep and Nawaz’s hits off Dube, but Kuldeep’s direct hit ran Nawaz out for 21. Ashraf escaped a drop by Gill and smashed boundaries off Pandya, but it wasn’t enough.
Brief scores: Pakistan 171/5 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 58, Saim Ayub 21; Shivam Dube 2-33, Hardik Pandya 1-29) lost to India 174/4 in 18.5 overs (Abhishek Sharma 74, Shubman Gill 47; Haris Rauf 2-26, Faheem Ashraf 1-31) by six wickets.
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