India delivered a commanding performance to beat Pakistan by 7 wickets in the high-voltage Group A clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. With this emphatic win, India secured two crucial points and further stamped their authority in the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025.
Pakistan Struggled with the Bat
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Pakistan had a nightmare start, losing opener Saim Ayub on the very first ball. Mohammad Haris followed shortly, leaving the team reeling at 6/2. Sahibzada Farhan (40 off 44) tried to steady the innings with calculated stroke play, while Fakhar Zaman added a quick 17 off 15.
But India’s spinners, especially Kuldeep Yadav, turned the game decisively in their favour. The left-arm wrist spinner picked up 3/18 in his 4 overs, dismissing Farhan, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Nawaz. Axar Patel also bowled brilliantly with figures of 2/18, while Jasprit Bumrah’s fiery pace earned him 2/28.
Captain Salman Agha (3 off 12) and middle-order batters failed to provide resistance. Just when Pakistan seemed destined for a sub-100 total, Shaheen Shah Afridi produced a stunning cameo. His unbeaten 33 off 16 balls, featuring four sixes, gave Pakistan’s innings a late boost. With help from Sufiyan Muqeem (10 off 6), Pakistan finished at 127/9 in 20 overs.
Chasing 128, India started aggressively as Abhishek Sharma blasted 31 runs off just 13 balls, hitting four boundaries and two sixes. Although Pakistan’s part-time bowler Saim Ayub briefly lifted hopes with three wickets (3/35), the total was far too low to defend.
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav anchored the innings with a composed unbeaten 47 off 37, ensuring there were no hiccups. Tilak Varma chipped in with 31, while Shivam Dube’s quickfire 10 not out sealed the deal. India wrapped up the chase in just 15.5 overs, ending on 131/3, with 25 balls to spare.
For his match-winning spell, Kuldeep Yadav was named Player of the Match. His ability to break partnerships at key stages ensured Pakistan never built momentum. Cricinfo’s MVP ratings also had him at the top with 75.07 points.
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