Dubai, Sep 14 — India’s reliance on spinners once again proved decisive in their Asia Cup Group A clash against Pakistan, as Kuldeep Yadav led a disciplined bowling effort to restrict their arch-rivals to a modest 127/9 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
India fielded just one frontline seamer, banking on a three-pronged spin attack. The sluggish surface validated the strategy as Kuldeep (3/18), Axar Patel (2/18) and Varun Chakaravarthy (1/24) choked the run flow and shared six wickets between them. Their combined economy rate stayed under five, leaving Pakistan struggling for momentum throughout the innings.
India struck early when Hardik Pandya dismissed Saim Ayub for a golden duck, followed by Jasprit Bumrah removing Mohammad Haris. Pakistan reached 41/2 in the powerplay, with Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan showing brief resistance. But the introduction of spin turned the tide.
Axar dismissed Zaman and Salman Agha, before Kuldeep tightened the noose further. He outfoxed Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Nawaz with sharp variations, then lured Farhan into holing out for 40. By the 15th over, Pakistan’s innings was in tatters, reduced to desperate hitting.
The lone spark came from Shaheen Shah Afridi, who smashed an unbeaten 33 off 16 balls, including a flurry of sixes that lifted Pakistan beyond 120. His counterattack, along with Sufiyan Muqeem’s brief support, ensured the innings avoided complete collapse.
India’s spin-first approach vindicated
The match reinforced India’s growing confidence in spin dominance, even in high-pressure fixtures. With Bumrah and Pandya offering control, the spinners operated with freedom, exploiting Pakistan’s long-standing discomfort against quality wrist spin. Pakistan, by contrast, leaned heavily on individual cameos, underlining a fragile middle order.
India’s chase of 128 should be straightforward, but the tactical win already lies in how Rohit Sharma’s side executed their spin blueprint — an approach that could shape their campaign ahead.
Asia Cup: Kuldeep Spins Web As India Restrict Pakistan To 127/9 In Dubai added by Bharath Panchajanya on
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