India thrashed Pakistan by six wickets in a hot Asia Cup Super Fours match at Dubai International Stadium, chasing 172 with seven balls to spare. Abhishek Sharma set the tone with a aggressive 74 off 39 deliveries, an innings that was marked with five sixes and six fours, as India scored 174 for four in 18.5 overs after checking Pakistan to 171 for five.
The chase was based on a dominance 105-run 59-ball opening stand by Abhishek and Shubman Gill, who hammered 47 from 28. When the two partners separated, Tilak Varma kept his composure, staying on 30 not out and finishing the game with a straight six. The win left India perfect on 4–0 in the tournament.
Temper flared more than once. The on-field umpires stepped between Abhishek and fast bowler Haris Rauf during a tense exchange, one of several flashpoints that animated the middle overs. “The way they were coming to us without any reason I didn’t like at all,” Abhishek said afterward. “I just wanted to deliver for my team.”
The post-match scene mirrored last week’s meeting: the teams again skipped the customary handshakes. The rivals’ previous no-handshake episode prompted a complaint from Pakistan to organizers and sparked debate about etiquette at the event.
Earlier, Pakistan rode Sahibzada Farhan’s 58 off 45 to reach 171 for five. Farhan celebrated his fifty with a mock “bat-as-rifle” gesture, drawing a mix of cheers and frowns in the stands. Pakistan were 91 for one at the halfway mark and finished strongly—taking 42 from the last three overs—but a long lull in the middle hurt them; there was a 40-ball stretch without a boundary. For India, medium-pacer Shivam Dube applied the brakes with two for 33, while Haris Rauf stood out for Pakistan with two for 26.
There was controversy when Fakhar Zaman was caught out, prompting animated appeals and brief delay before play resumed. Pakistan’s late charge was too little too late after India’s openers set up the run chase.
Score summary
- Pakistan 171–5 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 58 off 45); Shivam Dube 2–33
- India 174–4 in 18.5 overs (Abhishek Sharma 74 off 39, Shubman Gill 47 off 28; Haris Rauf 2–26)
India triumphed by six wickets.
Pakistan will face Sri Lanka on Tuesday, while India meet Bangladesh on Wednesday. If both advance from the four-team Super Fours, a third installment of this rivalry awaits in Sunday’s final.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
