India Crushes Pakistan by Seven Wickets in Asia Cup 2025

The Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 14, 2025, saw India and Pakistan locking horns in a high-stakes Group A clash of the Men’s T20 Asia Cup. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat, aiming to post a daunting total against their fiercest rivals. What followed was a story of early jitters, a crumbling middle order, and a late spark that couldn’t quite ignite a big score. They limped to 127 for 9 in their 20 overs, a total that exposed their struggles against India’s crafty spinners on a pitch that turned and gripped. India, in response, chased down the target with swagger, reaching 131 for 3 in just 15.5 overs to clinch a commanding seven-wicket win with 25 balls to spare.

Pakistan’s Innings

Pakistan’s decision to bat first was bold, but their innings unraveled quickly under India’s relentless bowling. The openers stepped onto the field with the weight of a nation’s expectations, but disaster struck immediately. Saim Ayub, the young gun, faced Hardik Pandya’s first ball and nicked it straight to Jasprit Bumrah at short third man. Out for a duck off one ball, Ayub’s early exit sent a shiver through the Pakistani dugout. Mohammad Haris, striding in at number three, tried to settle the nerves but lasted just five balls. He went for a risky pull off Bumrah, only to spoon it to Pandya at midwicket for a measly three runs. At 6 for 2 after 1.2 overs, Pakistan were in a hole, and the crowd sensed trouble.

Axar Patel with his second wicket as Salman Ali Agha departs for just 3 runs.

Live – https://t.co/D7cDABHqaf #AsiaCup2025 pic.twitter.com/X91So986bf

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 14, 2025

Fakhar Zaman joined Sahibzada Farhan, and the pair set about repairing the damage. Zaman came out swinging, cracking three boundaries in his 17 off 15 balls. His cover drives were pure class, slicing through the field with precision. Farhan, on the other hand, played the anchor, rotating the strike and picking his moments to attack with one four and three towering sixes. Their 39-run stand for the third wicket dragged Pakistan to 45 by the 7.4th over, offering a glimmer of hope. But Axar Patel, India’s wily left-arm spinner, changed the game. He tempted Zaman into a loose shot, and Tilak Varma snapped up the edge at slip to break the partnership.

Salman Agha, Pakistan’s captain, walked out to steady the ship but couldn’t find his groove. He scratched around for three runs off 12 balls, looking uncomfortable against the spinners. Patel struck again, luring Agha into a wild slog that sailed straight to Abhishek Sharma at deep midwicket. At 49 for 4 after 10 overs, Pakistan’s run rate was a sluggish five an over, and the pressure was mounting. Hasan Nawaz joined Farhan, and the two added 15 runs, but Kuldeep Yadav’s arrival turned the screws. In his first over, Kuldeep got Nawaz to loft one to Patel at long-on for five off seven. Moments later, he pinned Mohammad Nawaz lbw for a golden duck, leaving Pakistan teetering at 64 for 6 after 12.5 overs.

Farhan fought hard, grafting his way to 40 off 44 balls with one four and three sixes. He was the backbone of the innings, but with little support, he couldn’t push the tempo. In the 16th over, Kuldeep struck again, as Farhan went for another big shot and was caught by Pandya. Faheem Ashraf showed some grit, scoring 11 off 14 with a single boundary, but Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery spin trapped him lbw in the 17th over, reducing Pakistan to 97 for 8.

The tail offered some resistance, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi’s unbeaten 33 off 16 balls. Afridi swung hard, smashing four sixes, including back-to-back monsters off Pandya, to give Pakistan a fighting chance. His late blitz was a crowd-pleaser, showing the kind of aggression the top order lacked. Sufiyan Muqeem chipped in with 10 off six, hitting two crisp fours, before Bumrah cleaned him up in the 19th over. Abrar Ahmed hung on without scoring, and Pakistan finished at 127 for 9. Five extras, including four wides and one no-ball, padded the total slightly.

Innings Break!

Brilliant bowling display by our bowlers as Pakistan is restricted to 127/9 in 20 overs.

Kuldeep Yadav with 3 wickets, Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah with 2 apiece.

Scorecard – https://t.co/D7cDABHqaf #AsiaCup2025 pic.twitter.com/xQNHvIqiBs

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 14, 2025

India’s bowlers were clinical. Kuldeep Yadav stole the show with 3 for 18 in four overs, his wrist-spin weaving a web around Pakistan’s batters. Axar Patel backed him up with 2 for 18, while Bumrah’s 2 for 28 included those vital early scalps. Pandya, Chakravarthy, and Sharma kept the pressure on, and India’s fielders were electric, taking sharp catches to snuff out any hope of a Pakistani revival. The spinners claimed five wickets, exposing Pakistan’s vulnerability on a turning track. Their run rate of 6.35 was underwhelming, despite a powerplay of 61 for 2. Wickets fell steadily, reflecting India’s stranglehold. Afridi’s late fireworks added some gloss, but 127 felt chaseable on a decent batting surface.

India’s Innings

Chasing 128, India walked out with confidence, ready to take on Pakistan’s bowlers. Openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill looked to dominate the powerplay. Gill got off the mark with flair, stroking two boundaries in his 10 off seven balls, including a gorgeous drive off Shaheen Shah Afridi. But Saim Ayub, switching to left-arm spin, got his man in his first over. Gill danced down the track, missed the ball, and was stumped, giving Pakistan a flicker of hope.

5⃣0⃣-run stand between captain Surya Kumar Yadav & Tilak Varma 🤝#TeamIndia in cruise control in the chase! 👌

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/W2OEWMTVaY#AsiaCup2025 | @surya_14kumar | @TilakV9 pic.twitter.com/UQgeFERcqg

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 14, 2025

Abhishek Sharma, however, was in no mood to let up. He tore into the bowling, smashing 31 off 13 balls at a scorching strike rate of 238.46. His innings was a spectacle, with four fours and two sixes, including a massive six over midwicket off Afridi that had the crowd roaring. Boundaries flew all over, but Ayub struck again, getting Sharma caught by Faheem Ashraf at deep midwicket in the fourth over. At 41 for 2 after 3.4 overs, Pakistan sensed an opening, but India’s depth was about to shine.

Suryakumar Yadav, the captain, joined Tilak Varma, and the pair took control. Yadav played a gem, staying unbeaten on 47 off 37 balls with five fours and one six. His 360-degree shots kept the bowlers guessing, picking gaps with ease. Varma played the perfect foil, scoring 31 off 31 with two fours and a six, starting cautiously before lofting Abrar Ahmed for a clean six. Their 56-run stand for the third wicket, built over 52 balls, put India in command. By the 10-over drinks break, they were 88 for 2, cruising past the required rate. The partnership hit 50 in 42 balls, and India crossed 100 in the 13th over.

Ayub broke through again, bowling Varma in the 12th over as he missed a sweep. Shivam Dube walked in and finished the job with an unbeaten 10 off seven, smashing a six to seal the win in style. Yadav and Dube’s unbroken 34-run stand wrapped up the chase with ease.

Pakistan’s bowlers couldn’t find answers. Ayub was their best, taking 3 for 35, but the rest struggled. Afridi leaked 23 in two overs without a wicket, Abrar conceded 16 in four at a tidy 4.00 economy, Mohammad Nawaz gave away 27 in three, and Muqeem was expensive with 29 in 2.5 overs. India’s discipline was evident, conceding just two extras, a leg bye and a wide. Their run rate of 8.27 reflected their control, with the power play yielding 61 for 2. Pakistan burned both DRS reviews on Yadav, one in the 12th over and another in the 15th, both in vain. Wickets fell at 22 for 1, 41 for 2, and 97 for 3, but India never looked troubled. Yadav’s cool head guided them home.

India notch up an effortless win ✌️

The 🇮🇳 contingent offered little to nothing with ball & bat, dominating all three facets of the game to record a thumping win over their arch rivals.#INDvPAK #DPWorldAsiaCup2025 #ACC pic.twitter.com/LUWFZAJ0tm

— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 14, 2025

India’s chase showcased their batting depth and composure. The win earned them four points in Group A and stretched their T20I head-to-head lead over Pakistan to 11-3. Kuldeep Yadav’s bowling heroics earned him Player of the Match, but the batters’ clinical display stole the show.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Abhishek Sharma set the stage ablaze with his blistering 31 off 13 balls during India’s chase. His strike rate of 238.46 was pure fireworks, with four fours and two sixes lighting up the stadium. His massive six off Shaheen Shah Afridi over midwicket was a jaw-dropper, and his boundaries kept Pakistan’s bowlers on their heels.

This Sharmaji ka ladka is a little too tough to contain 😮‍💨

Watch #INDvPAK LIVE NOW on the Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.#SonySportsNetwork #DPWorldAsiaCup2025 pic.twitter.com/xLn92yeJpi

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 14, 2025

Though Saim Ayub dismissed him in the 3.4th over, Sharma’s knock gave India a flying start at 41 for 2. Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 47 and Tilak Varma’s 31 steadied the ship, while Shivam Dube’s quick 10 sealed the deal. Sharma’s fearless batting was the TCNI Magic Moment of the Game.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Kuldeep Yadav was the star, clinching Man of the Match with a sensational 3 for 18 in four overs. The wrist-spinner bowled 15 dot balls at an economy of 4.50, strangling Pakistan’s batting.

For his superb bowling performance, Kuldeep Yadav bags the Player of the Match award! 👌 👌

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/W2OEWMTVaY
#TeamIndia | #AsiaCup2025 | @imkuldeep18 pic.twitter.com/vAgMmWZ5r1

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 14, 2025

His dismissals of Sahibzada Farhan (40 off 44), Hasan Nawaz (5 off 7), and Mohammad Nawaz (0 off 1) broke Pakistan’s spine, restricting them to 127 for 9. Backed by Axar Patel’s 2 for 18 and Jasprit Bumrah’s 2 for 28, Kuldeep’s crafty spin and pinpoint control made him the game’s hero, proving his mettle in a high-pressure clash.