DUBAI: A disciplined bowling display helped India restrict Pakistan to a modest 127 for nine in their high-voltage ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha’s decision to bat first backfired, as his side faltered against India’s bowling attack despite a fighting knock from opener Sahibzada Farhan.
The innings began poorly when Saim Ayub fell for a duck to Hardik Pandya in the first over, followed by Mohammad Haris, dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah for three. Pakistan were reduced to six for two inside two overs, leaving their top order in disarray.
Fakhar Zaman (17) and Farhan staged a brief recovery, adding 39 for the third wicket before Axar Patel broke the stand by removing Zaman in the eighth over.
The dismissal triggered a middle-order collapse, with Pakistan losing three wickets in quick succession to slump to 64 for six by the 13th over.
Farhan, who anchored one end, top-scored with 40 off 44 deliveries, including one boundary and three sixes, before perishing to Kuldeep Yadav in the 17th over.
Lower-order resistance came from Shaheen Shah Afridi, who smashed 33 from 16 balls with four sixes, giving Pakistan’s total some late impetus. He found brief support from Faheem Ashraf (11) and Sufiyan Muqeem (10), but India’s bowlers remained firmly on top.
Kuldeep starred with figures of three for 18 in four overs, while Bumrah and Axar claimed two wickets each. Pandya and Varun Chakravarthy chipped in with a wicket apiece, ensuring Pakistan never gained momentum.
India now require 128 runs for victory in a match that carries weight far beyond cricket.
India, the reigning T20 world champions, entered the tournament as favourites and showcased their dominance earlier with a ruthless nine-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency with the bat despite winning a tri-series involving Afghanistan before the Asia Cup.
Pakistan Playing XI
Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed.
India Playing XI
Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah.
