Dubai, Sep 14: India marked their biggest Asia Cup statement yet with a commanding seven-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan, as skipper Suryakumar Yadav starred with an unbeaten 47 on his 35th birthday. Chasing a modest 128, India romped home with 25 balls to spare at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, underscoring their supremacy with bat and ball.
Leading from the front, Suryakumar anchored the chase with characteristic composure, finishing unbeaten alongside Shivam Dube (10*). Earlier, openers Abhishek Sharma (31) and Tilak Varma (31) laid a solid foundation, attacking Pakistan’s bowlers with freedom. The clinical batting ensured India never looked under pressure, despite Saim Ayub’s triple strikes providing brief resistance.
The post-match atmosphere reflected the wider diplomatic frost between the neighbours. Once again, there were no handshakes exchanged between players, a symbolic reminder that this was more than just a sporting contest. The political shadow has turned cricket into yet another arena of silent hostility, even in Dubai’s neutral setting.
Spin dictates Pakistan’s struggle
Earlier in the evening, India’s spinners continued their dominance. Kuldeep Yadav (3/18) and Axar Patel (2/18) dismantled Pakistan’s middle order, while Varun Chakaravarthy (1/24) maintained pressure on a sluggish surface. Pakistan never recovered after early blows, with only Sahibzada Farhan (40) showing resistance before Shaheen Shah Afridi’s late fireworks (33* off 16) salvaged some respectability.
The match reinforced India’s tactical gamble of fielding just one frontline pacer, trusting their spinners to dictate terms. The move has worked in back-to-back games, highlighting a fresh blueprint ahead of the T20 World Cup year. By contrast, Pakistan’s batting once again appeared fragile against wrist-spin, exposing a recurring weakness in high-stakes encounters.
India in cruise control
This contest, often billed as cricket’s fiercest rivalry, proved one-sided. India’s superior depth, discipline and adaptability stood out, while Pakistan’s overreliance on cameos was ruthlessly exposed. For India, the ease of the win, without major contributions from Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, will be especially reassuring. For Pakistan, the defeat will raise questions about squad balance and their ability to handle spin-heavy attacks.
Brief Scores:
Pakistan: 127/9 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 40, Shaheen Afridi 33*; Kuldeep Yadav 3/18, Axar Patel 2/18)
India: 131/3 in 15.5 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 47*, Abhishek Sharma 31, Tilak Varma 31; Saim Ayub 3/22)
India won by 7 wickets.
Asia Cup: Kuldeep, Axar And Suryakumar Shine As India Outclass Pakistan In Dubai added by Bharath Panchajanya on
View all posts by Bharath Panchajanya →