India’s cricket team kicked off the Asia Cup on a high note, smashing arch-rivals Pakistan by seven wickets in Dubai. But it wasn’t just about the win—head coach Gautam Gambhir took a moment to honor the victims of the tragic Pahalgam terror attack and praised the Indian Armed Forces for their bold Operation Sindoor against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
This high-stakes India vs Pakistan clash marked their first meeting since the April Pahalgam attack, which prompted India’s swift military response. Despite the heavy pressure and online criticism for playing amid the tension, Suryakumar Yadav’s squad stayed focused and dominated from the start.
After the thrilling victory, Gambhir spoke to broadcasters with a big smile: “Great win! There’s plenty more cricket in this Asia Cup tournament. This match meant a lot—we wanted to stand in solidarity with the victims and their families from the Pahalgam terror attack. Above all, we thank the Indian Army for Operation Sindoor’s success. We’ll keep pushing to make our country proud.”
Let’s break down the action. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, but India’s bowlers struck early, reducing them to 6/2. Sahibzada Farhan fought back with a gritty 40 off 44 balls (including a four and three sixes), partnering with Fakhar Zaman’s quick 17 off 15 (three fours) for a 39-run stand. Still, India piled on the pressure, leaving Pakistan at 97/8. A fiery late surge from Shaheen Shah Afridi (33* off 16 balls, smashing four sixes) pushed them to 127/9 in 20 overs.
Kuldeep Yadav starred for India with 3/18, while Axar Patel (2/18) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/28) grabbed two wickets each. Hardik Pandya chipped in with one.
Chasing 128, India lost two quick wickets in the powerplay, but Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 31 off 13 balls (four boundaries and two sixes) set a strong foundation. Suryakumar Yadav then anchored the innings with an unbeaten 47 off 37 (five fours and a six), building a crucial 56-run partnership with Tilak Varma’s 31 off 31 (two fours). Suryakumar stayed till the end, teaming up with Shivam Dube (10*) to seal the win with 25 balls to spare.
Kuldeep Yadav earned Player of the Match for his brilliant spell. With two wins from two games, India tops Group A in the Asia Cup and looks set for more glory.
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