Dubai: Kuldeep Yadav’s three-wicket haul, combined with a commanding batting display, powered India to a comprehensive victory over Pakistan in the sixth match of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Chasing a modest target of 128, India crossed the line with ease, losing only three wickets and finishing the job in 15.5 overs.
India began aggressively as Abhishek Sharma blazed 31 runs from just 13 deliveries, striking two sixes and four boundaries to set the tone for the innings. Although Saim Ayub dismissed both Sharma and Shubman Gill, who managed 10 runs, inside the powerplay, India remained firmly in control. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Verma then steadied the chase with a 56-run partnership, guiding their side close to the finish line. Verma contributed a composed 31 off 31 balls, hitting two fours and a six, while Suryakumar remained unbeaten on 47 from 37 deliveries. He finished the game in style with a towering six, his innings featuring five boundaries and a six. For Pakistan, Saim Ayub was the only bright spot with the ball, claiming all three wickets in his four-over spell.
Earlier, Pakistan struggled after electing to bat first and could only manage 127 for nine in their allotted overs. Their innings began on a disastrous note as Saim Ayub was dismissed for a golden duck on the second ball of the match, followed by Mohammad Haris, who scored just three runs. With the scoreboard reading six for two inside the first two overs, Pakistan found themselves under pressure. Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan attempted to rebuild with a cautious 39-run stand, but Fakhar’s departure for 17 triggered another collapse. Wickets fell at regular intervals until Shaheen Afridi’s late cameo provided some resistance. Farhan top-scored with 40 from 44 deliveries, hitting three sixes and a four, while Shaheen remained unbeaten on 33 from 16 balls, including four towering sixes.
For India, Kuldeep Yadav was the chief destroyer with three wickets, while Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah chipped in with two apiece. Despite Shaheen’s fireworks, Pakistan’s total proved insufficient against India’s dominant response, as the arch-rivals met for the first time since the May escalation between the two nations.
