Abhishek blitz blunts Pakistan in heated contest

Words were exchanged, tempers flared, and Pakistan's batters showed greater resolve compared to their earlier game in the 2025 Asia Cup against India. But India's bowlers pulled things back after the halfway mark, and Abhishek Sharma then stole the show with a whirlwind 74 off 39 balls, which included 6 fours and 5 sixes, as India began their Super 4s campaign with a six-wicket victory in Dubai.

Where was the game won?

Between overs 11 and 16, Pakistan's innings completely stalled - no boundaries, three wickets down, and only 30 runs added at a run rate of five an over. India also slowed down and lost wickets in that period, but their blazing start gave them the cushion to ride it out, and they still managed 10 runs more than Pakistan in the same phase, eventually coasting to a comfortable win.

PAKISTAN

Powerplay: Positive start by Pakistan

Phase score - 55/1 (RR: 9.16, 4s/6s: 9/0)

Sahibzada Farhan had an early slice of fortune in the opening over when Abhishek, stationed at third man, reacted late and grassed a chance off Hardik Pandya. At the other end, Fakhar Zaman opened ahead of the out-of-form Saim Ayub and immediately set the tone, striking two fours off Jasprit Bumrah, who conceded 11 in his first over. Fakhar also found the boundary against Pandya but departed soon after, edging a slower ball to the 'keeper - the third umpire confirmed that the catch was clean, and the batter wasn't pleased. Ayub walked in at No.3 and got off the mark with a confident pull off Pandya for four, his first runs of the Asia Cup after three successive ducks. He too enjoyed some luck, put down by Kuldeep Yadav at short fine leg while attempting a sweep off Varun Chakaravarthy. Bumrah, meanwhile, endured a rare off-day, leaking four more boundaries and returning figures of 0 for 34 from three, as Pakistan powered to their highest powerplay score in T20Is against India.

Middle overs: India hit back after Farhan fifty

Phase score - 64/3 (RR: 7.11, 4s/6s: 2/4)

Kuldeep kept it quiet in the seventh over but Varun conceded the first six of the innings, with Abhishek failing to take a difficult chance at long-on to reprieve Farhan again. Ayub got his first six by coming down the track and hitting one straight over Kuldeep's head, and Farhan also launched a maximum in the same over. The opener got to a 34-ball fifty by pulling Axar for a six as Pakistan moved to 91/1 after 10 overs. The 72-run stand was finally broken when Ayub miscued a pull off Shivam Dube, with Abhishek making amends by diving forward to complete a fine catch. Tight overs followed, building pressure and forcing errors - Hussain Talat fell to Kuldeep attempting a reverse sweep, while Farhan, in trying to attack Dube, lost both his bat and his wicket.

Death overs: Middle order lift Pakistan to 171

Phase score - 52/1 (RR: 10.40, 4s/6s: 2/4)

Salman Agha set the tone for the death overs with a six over long-on off Kuldeep, though the over produced only eight runs. Mohammad Nawaz provided the next surge, clearing the ropes against Dube and edging one for four as 17 came off the 17th over. Nawaz's stay, however, ended in the 19th when he was run out, failing to ground his bat while returning to the striker's end. Faheem Ashraf then took charge, launching Bumrah for a six and getting a reprieve when Gill put him down, as India's spearhead finished wicketless for 45 runs. Ashraf capped the innings with a four and a six off Pandya as Pakistan posted their highest T20I total against India.

INDIA

Powerplay: Indian openers blitz away

Phase score - 69/0 (RR: 11.50, 4s/6s: 10/2)

Abhishek top-edged a pull for a first-ball six off Shaheen Afridi, followed by two fours for Gill off Ayub as India got off to a positive start. Abhishek was nearly caught off Shaheen but the over proved expensive as Gill clubbed two fours. Abhishek survived a run-out opportunity, with the 'keeper making contact with the stumps without the ball in gloves. The left-hander regained momentum with a four and a six off Abrar Ahmed while the openers struck a boundary each off Haris Rauf to take India past 50 in the fifth over, while there were also some words exchanged. The pumped up Indian openers hit three fours between them off Ayub to finish the powerplay in style.

Middle overs: Pakistan fight back after century stand

Phase score - 71/3 (RR: 7.88, 4s/6s: 6/3)

The big-hitting continued even with the field spread as Abhishek struck two sixes off Abrar, with the second maximum being a dropped chance by Farhan. Gill then hit a four off Ayub, as did Abhishek as he brought up a 24-ball fifty, the fastest for India against Pakistan in T20Is. India reached 100 in just 8.4 overs, bringing up the first century partnership in this Asia Cup. There was a break in play as Gill needed some attention from the physio and he fell immediately upon resumption, bowled by Ashraf three short of a fifty. Suryakumar Yadav then fell to Haris Rauf, getting dismissed for the third time by the pacer after he got a leading edge to third man. Abhishek kept India going, striking two fours off Ashraf and a six off Abrar, but the left-hander's outing came to an end when he mis-hit a short ball from the legspinner. Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma began building a partnership and managed a couple of boundaries to keep India in front in the chase.

Death overs: Tilak leads India over the line

Phase score - 34/1 (RR: 8.86, 4s/6s: 2/2)

Although he hung around, Samson wasn't looking too fluent and his scratchy innings ended when he was bowled for a 17-ball 13 by Rauf. A boundary in the same over for Pandya took India past 150, bringing the equation to 19 off 18. Ashraf, who bowled the 18th over, conceded 10 with Tilak pulling one over the fence. It came down to 2 as Tilak struck Afridi for a six over long-off and finished it off with a boundary to backward square leg, remaining unbeaten on 30 off 19, as India got over the line comfortably in the end.

Brief scores: Pakistan 171/5 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 58, Saim Ayub 21; Shivam Dube 2-33) lost to India 174/4 in 18.5 overs (Abhishek Sharma 74, Shubman Gill 47; Haris Rauf 2-26) by 6 wickets.

What next for the teams?

India have a two-day break before they face Bangladesh in Dubai. Pakistan, on the other hand, have only a day's break before they take on Sri Lanka, who also lost their opening Super 4s match.