Abhi ‘Shakes’ Pakistan, India clinch six-wicket win over Pak

Abhishek Sharma scored 74 and Shubman Gill 47 as India chased 172 to beat Pakistan by six wickets in the Asia Cup Super Fours at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Tilak Varma finished unbeaten to guide India home

Dubai: Opener Abhishek Sharma smashed a scintillating 74 off 39 balls as India clinched a six-wicket victory over Pakistan in a Super Fours clash of the 2025 Men’s T20 Asia Cup at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

The win marked India’s highest successful chase against Pakistan in T20Is, keeping the reigning world champions unbeaten in the competition. Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with 58, while Faheem Ashraf added a late boost with 20 not out off eight balls as Pakistan posted 171/5 in 20 overs.

India’s chase started on the front foot, with Abhishek hooking the very first ball from Shaheen Shah Afridi for six. Alongside Shubman Gill, who made a brisk 47 off 28 balls, the duo stitched a match-defining 105-run opening stand that left Pakistan searching for answers.

Despite a brief lull, Tilak Varma ensured a smooth finish to the chase with an unbeaten 30 off 19 balls, as India reached the target with seven balls to spare. Varma and Hardik Pandya quietly walked off without shaking hands and entered the Indian dressing room in jubilation.

Abhishek dominated Afridi early, while Gill found rhythm by sweeping and cutting Saim Ayub for consecutive boundaries and lofting Afridi for more runs. Tension simmered when Gill pointed to Afridi at the end of the third over. Abhishek then attacked Abrar Ahmed, pulling and swinging for four and six, and both openers also picked up boundaries off Rauf.

After hitting Ayub for four, Gill late-cut him through point and short third man, then pulled through mid-wicket for additional boundaries. India ended the powerplay at 69/0 – the best score in this phase of the ongoing tournament.

Abhishek carted Abrar for two sixes, including one dropped by Farhan at long-off, and brought up his fifty in 24 balls with a timed cover-drive off Ayub. Just after a drinks break, Pakistan struck twice: Faheem Ashraf bowled Gill, while Suryakumar Yadav’s leading edge was caught at deep third man off Rauf.

Abhishek recovered quickly, hitting two boundaries off Ashraf and lofting Abrar for six, before holing out to long-on.

With India needing 49 off 46 balls, Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson kept the scoreboard ticking. Samson was castled by Rauf, but Varma and Pandya guided India home with calm batting.\

Brief scores:

Pakistan: 171/5 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 58, Saim Ayub 21; Shivam Dube 2-33, Hardik Pandya 1-29)

India: 174/4 in 18.5 overs (Abhishek Sharma 74, Shubman Gill 47; Haris Rauf 2-26, Faheem Ashraf 1-31) – won by six wickets