Pakistan vs India – Asia Cup 2025 Match Highlights

Match Summary

Match: 6th Match, Group A
Date: September 14, 2025
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE
Format: T20 International
Toss: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first
Result: India won by 7 wickets (with 25 balls remaining)

Scorecard Overview

Pakistan – 127/9 (20 overs)

• Top Scorer: Sahibzada Farhan 40 (44 balls)
• Valuable Contribution: Shaheen Shah Afridi 33* (16 balls)
• Bowling Figures: Kuldeep Yadav 3/18 (4 overs), Axar Patel 2/18 (4 overs)

India – 131/3 (15.5 overs, Target: 128)

• Top Scorer: Suryakumar Yadav 47* (37 balls)
• Supporting Knocks: Tilak Varma 31 (31 balls), Abhishek Sharma 31 (13 balls)
• Pakistan Bowling: Saim Ayub 3/35 (4 overs)

Match Highlights

First Innings – Pakistan Batting

Powerplay Performance:

• Pakistan struggled early, managing only 42/2 in the first 6 overs
• Hardik Pandya removed Saim Ayub with the first legal ball of the match
• Sahibzada Farhan became the first Pakistani to hit multiple sixes off Jasprit Bumrah in international cricket

Middle Overs Collapse:

• Pakistan suffered a devastating middle-order collapse
• 63 balls went unscored off during Pakistan’s innings
• The spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakaravarthy dominated
• Pakistan took 31 balls to hit their first boundary after the powerplay

Death Overs Recovery:

• Shaheen Shah Afridi provided late fireworks with a career-best T20I score
• His unbeaten 33 off 16 balls included clean hitting in the final overs
• Pakistan managed to cross 125, giving their bowlers something to defend

Second Innings – India’s Chase

Explosive Start:

• Abhishek Sharma charged at Afridi first ball and hit it back over his head for four. He then hit the second for a six over long-off
• India raced to 41/2 in just 3.4 overs during the powerplay
• Both Abhishek Sharma (31 off 13) and Shubman Gill provided rapid starts

Steady Middle Phase:

• After losing early wickets, Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav steadied the ship
• The pair added a crucial 50-run partnership
• Despite a brief slow period, India maintained control throughout

Clinical Finish:

• Suryakumar Yadav finished things in style with a massive six off Sufiyan Muqeem
• India completed the chase with 4.1 overs to spare
• The captain remained unbeaten on 47 off 37 balls

Player of the Match

Kuldeep Yadav (India)

• Bowling Figures: 4 overs, 3 wickets, 18 runs
• Key Dismissals: Secured crucial middle-order wickets
• Impact: Named Player of the Match for the second consecutive time in the ongoing Continental Cup
• Performance: Dominated Pakistan’s batting with his variations and control

Key Performances

India

• Suryakumar Yadav: 47* (37) – Captain’s knock under pressure
• Tilak Varma: 31 (31) – Steady partnership building
• Abhishek Sharma: 31 (13) – Explosive start to the chase
• Kuldeep Yadav: 3/18 – Match-winning bowling figures
• Axar Patel: 2/18 – Excellent spin bowling in middle overs
• Jasprit Bumrah: 2 wickets – Quality pace bowling

Pakistan

• Sahibzada Farhan: 40 (44) – Top scorer but slow strike rate
• Shaheen Shah Afridi: 33* (16) – Valuable late contribution
• Saim Ayub: 3/35 – Best bowling figures for Pakistan
• Salman Agha: Led the side but struggled with tactics

Tournament Context

Group A Standings (After Match 6)

1. India: 4 points from 2 matches (2 wins)
2. Pakistan: 2 points from 2 matches (1 win, 1 loss)
3. UAE: 0 points from 1 match
4. Oman: 0 points from 2 matches

Qualification Scenario

• India are almost through to the Super 4 stages after winning two games in a row
• Pakistan must beat UAE in their next match to stay in contention
• India have virtually secured their Super Four berth

Historical Context

Head-to-Head Record

• India extended their dominance over Pakistan to 11-3 in T20Is
• In Asia Cup history: India have won 10 matches, Pakistan 6, with 3 abandoned
• Pakistan’s last T20 victory over India came in the 2022 Asia Cup in Dubai

Notable Statistics

• Pakistan became only the sixth team to hit multiple sixes off Bumrah in T20Is
• This was India’s second-best powerplay performance against Pakistan
• Pakistan’s scoring rate went past a run a ball only in the last over of the innings

Post-Match Controversy

No Handshake Incident

• India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that his squad opted against shaking hands with their opponents as a mark of protest
• The incident stemmed from ongoing political tensions between the two countries
• No hand shakes or eye contact between the teams as the match ended

Administrative Response

• Pakistan Cricket Board demanded action against match referee Andy Pycroft
• The demand from Naqvi, also the Asian Cricket Council president, came a day after the PCB had alleged that Pycroft had “requested the captains not to shake hands at the toss”
• The controversy overshadowed India’s dominant on-field performance

Analysis

India’s Dominance

• Bowling Attack: India’s varied bowling attack proved too strong for Pakistan
• Batting Depth: Multiple contributors ensured a comfortable chase
• Fielding Standards: Sharp catching and ground fielding maintained pressure
• Leadership: Suryakumar Yadav led from the front with both bat and captaincy

Pakistan’s Struggles

• Batting Collapse: Middle-order failed to build partnerships
• Dot Ball Pressure: Too many scoreless deliveries affected momentum
• Bowling Lack: Apart from Saim Ayub, bowlers failed to create pressure
• Field Placement: Tactical errors allowed India easy boundaries

Match-Defining Moments

1. Early Wicket: Saim Ayub’s dismissal off the first legal ball
2. Spin Chokehold: India’s spinners bowling 31 dot balls after powerplay
3. Explosive Response: Abhishek Sharma’s counter-attack in the chase
4. Partnership Building: Tilak Varma and Suryakumar’s match-sealing stand

Looking Ahead

Upcoming Fixtures

• Pakistan vs UAE: September 16, 2025 (Must-win for Pakistan)
• India vs Oman: September 17, 2025 (To seal Super Four spot)

Potential Rematch

• If both teams qualify for Super Four, they could meet again
• Pakistan and India are likely to meet again in the Asia Cup if both teams qualify for the Super Four stage
• The political tensions may continue to impact future encounters

Tournament Impact

This comprehensive victory has put India in the driver’s seat for the Asia Cup 2025, showcasing their depth and quality across all departments while exposing Pakistan’s vulnerabilities in high-pressure situations.