Asia Cup 2025: India beat Pakistan by 7 wickets

Dubai (Web Desk): India clinched a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday to strengthen their position at the top of Group A in the Asia Cup 2025, securing four points from two outings.

The target of 128 never looked threatening as the Indian batting unit, led by Abhishek Sharma and Surya Kumar Yadav, made light work of the chase inside sixteen overs.

The run pursuit began with fireworks from opener Abhishek Sharma, who tore into Shaheen Shah Afridi’s opening burst, collecting 23 runs in his first two overs with two sixes and as many boundaries.

His stay, however, was short-lived as he fell for a quick 31 off 13 balls while attempting another big strike, caught at long-on off Saim Ayub.

Earlier, Shubman Gill managed 10 before being stumped by Mohammad Haris, giving Ayub his first breakthrough.

Tilak Varma then joined captain Surya Kumar Yadav, and together they steadied the innings with a 56-run stand off 52 deliveries. Varma compiled 31 before being undone by Ayub’s sharp delivery, but by then India were firmly in control. Yadav remained unbeaten on 47 from 37 balls, guiding the chase with authority, while Shivam Dube supported with 10 not out.

Pakistan’s bowling was led by Saim Ayub, who picked up three wickets for 35 runs, while Abrar Ahmed bowled with admirable economy, conceding just 16 runs in his spell but failing to strike. Shaheen Afridi leaked runs in his brief outing, and the rest of the attack offered little resistance.

Earlier in the evening, Pakistan faltered with the bat after opting to bat first on a sluggish surface, managing only 127 for nine.

Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with a cautious 40 from 44 balls, striking three sixes and a boundary, but his resistance lacked support. Fakhar Zaman chipped in with 17, while skipper Salman Agha struggled to three runs off 12 deliveries.

The innings was destabilized early when Saim Ayub fell first ball to Hardik Pandya, followed soon after by Mohammad Haris, who miscued Jasprit Bumrah for three.

Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, and Faheem Ashraf fell cheaply, and only Shaheen Afridi provided late entertainment with a brisk 33 off 16 balls that spared Pakistan further embarrassment.

India’s bowling attack was relentless, particularly the spinners, who suffocated Pakistan’s innings by conceding just 65 runs in 13 overs.

Kuldeep Yadav shone with three wickets for 18, including back-to-back dismissals, while Axar Patel took two for 18 and Varun Chakravarthy claimed one for 24. Abhishek Sharma bowled one over for just five runs.

Among the seamers, Bumrah bagged two for 28, and Pandya claimed one for 34. Pakistan’s struggles were highlighted by the 63 dot balls they consumed during the innings, never finding fluency against India’s tight lines.

Kuldeep Yadav was rightfully named Player of the Match for his impactful spell that turned the contest decisively in India’s favour.