India continued their winning streak against Pakistan with a commanding six-wicket victory in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four stage. The result not only cemented India’s position as favourites for the final but also raised questions about the competitiveness of a rivalry once considered the fiercest in world cricket.
Abhishek Sharma leads with fearless batting
From the very first ball, opener Abhishek Sharma signalled India’s intent by smashing Shaheen Afridi for six. Alongside Shubman Gill, he stitched together a blistering partnership that dismantled Pakistan’s bowling attack during the powerplay. Abhishek’s 74, packed with towering sixes over mid-wicket, became the defining knock of the match.
Verbal exchanges with Afridi and Haris Rauf added drama to the contest, but Abhishek remained unfazed. “The way they were coming at us without reason, I didn’t like it. That’s why I went after them. I wanted to deliver for my team,” he said after being named Player of the Match.
Gill and Dube provide stability
While Abhishek’s fireworks set the stage, Gill supported him with calmness at the other end, embodying what Suryakumar Yadav later described as their “fire and ice” combination. After the dismissal of the openers, Shivam Dube played a steadying hand in the middle order, ensuring India never lost control of the chase.
Tilak Varma finished the job with a six and a four in the 19th over, sealing the win with seven balls to spare.
Bumrah below par, but India excel collectively
Jasprit Bumrah had a rare off day, conceding runs without his usual menace. However, India’s bowling unit collectively restricted Pakistan to a modest total. Fielding errors threatened to dent India’s momentum, but quick recoveries after the drinks break helped regain control.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav defended Bumrah, saying: “That’s fine, he’s not a robot, he will have a bad day someday. The boys stepped up and complemented each other well.”
Pakistan fall short despite bright moments
Pakistan’s innings was highlighted by flashes of brilliance from Fakhar Zaman and Farhan, but inconsistency cost them crucial runs. Salman Agha admitted the team fell short of expectations: “We were 15–20 runs short. In the powerplay, they took the game away. A total of 170–180 would have been competitive.”
Despite positives such as Harry’s bowling spell, Pakistan could not recover from India’s aggressive start.
Rivalry under scrutiny
India’s dominance over Pakistan has now stretched to nine wins in their last ten T20 encounters. Commentator Harsha Bhogle remarked: “India vs Pakistan is no longer a rivalry,” echoing sentiments that the edge may have dulled in recent years.
What lies ahead
With this victory, India are virtually assured of a place in the Asia Cup final. Pakistan, however, face a do-or-die clash against Sri Lanka in their next outing. As India march forward with confidence, the focus now shifts to whether any team can truly challenge them in this tournament.