From the electrifying Dubai International Stadium, a profound truth emerged during Sunday’s Super 4s clash between India and Pakistan: sometimes, your oldest friends truly reflect your best self. This was brilliantly exemplified by the batting partnership of Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma.
The duo, displaying impeccable synergy, crafted a crucial 105-run opening stand, mirroring each other’s attacking intent. Their bond, forged since their U-12 days in Punjab, proved vital. The day before the high-stakes encounter, only three Indian players opted for the optional practice. Among them were Gill, who had been struggling for form, and Abhishek, who stepped up as an informal mentor. Abhishek spent an hour bowling to Gill in the nets, helping him refine his sweep shots, playfully challenging his reverse-sweep, and even enlisting Varun Chakravarthy to test him with varied deliveries.
Fire, Fury, and Fireworks
India’s formidable chase of 172 began with an explosion of ‘fire, fury, and fireworks.’ Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill ignited the scoreboard, forging a century partnership in a mere 8.4 overs. While Abhishek unleashed his destructive power, Gill showcased his elegant strokeplay, delighting spectators with his sublime timing.
As anticipated, this high-voltage match, already simmering with weeks of off-field drama, quickly boiled over. Pakistani pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf resorted to verbal barrages in Punjabi. After Abhishek smashed Shaheen for a six off the very first ball, a visibly frustrated Shaheen targeted him with expletives. Later, he also directed abuses at Shubman, who calmly responded by simply pointing to where his shot had landed – a moment reminiscent of the classic Aamer Sohail-Venkatesh Prasad exchange of 1996. The intensity peaked when Haris Rauf unleashed a volley of insults at Abhishek, who promptly responded by hammering two consecutive boundaries. The situation became so charged that umpires had to step in and diffuse the escalating confrontation between Rauf and Sharma.
Abhishek dramatically set the stage, pulling Shaheen Afridi for a six in the opening over. Gill, whose dedication in the nets paid off, confidently found the ropes against Saim Ayub’s off-spin. Their aggressive intent was undeniable; Abhishek launched Abrar Ahmed for massive sixes, and Gill executed a flawless reverse sweep—a shot his friend had humorously challenged him about just the day before.
Sharma quickly reached a blistering 25-ball fifty, albeit with the help of two dropped catches. Gill, meanwhile, maintained a high scoring rate with his signature drives and sweeps. The formidable 105-run partnership finally ended when Gill, visibly struggling with cramps, was bowled by Faheem Ashraf after a well-made 47 off 28 deliveries. India’s openers had electrified the chase with their audacious hitting and spirited exchanges, leaving Pakistan’s bowlers reeling. Abhishek’s scintillating innings concluded at 74 runs off just 39 balls. Although India lost Gill and Suryakumar Yadav in quick succession, the damage was already done. India comfortably chased down the target in 18.5 overs, securing a commanding six-wicket victory.
Pakistan Cashes In on India’s Sloppy Fielding
However, the match wasn’t without its early drama. India’s fielding unit struggled, dropping a staggering five chances, which allowed Pakistan to claw their way to a respectable total of 171/5. Sahibzada Farhan was the prime beneficiary, capitalizing on two dropped catches by Abhishek Sharma to reach a fluent half-century.
Sharma’s initial lapse occurred at third man, dropping Farhan when he was yet to score. The Pakistani opener seized this lifeline, punishing India with aggressive strokes, including two boundaries off Jasprit Bumrah and consecutive fours against Varun Chakravarthy. Farhan continued his onslaught, ending the powerplay with two more boundaries off Bumrah, propelling Pakistan to 55/1. His second dropped chance, again by Abhishek at long-on, saw the ball palmed over the ropes for a six. Undeterred, Farhan then hammered Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel for towering sixes to complete his fifty, celebrating in a style that echoed MS Dhoni’s memorable first century against Pakistan.
At the halfway mark, with the score at 91/1, Pakistan appeared to be in a commanding position until Shivam Dube’s “golden arm” shifted the momentum. Dube broke the threatening 72-run partnership by outsmarting Saim Ayub with a slower delivery, prompting Abhishek to redeem himself with a superb diving catch from deep square. Dube struck again, dismissing Farhan with another slower ball, though Suryakumar Yadav had to calmly gather the ball after the batter’s bat flew from his hands mid-shot. Kuldeep Yadav then applied the pressure, initiating a 21-ball boundary drought for Pakistan. Hussain Talat departed cheaply, but captain Salman Ali Agha finally ended the 37-ball boundary dry spell with a six off the first ball of the 17th over. Dube’s impressive bowling, however, suffered a minor setback when Nawaz hammered him for 17 runs. Moments later, Nawaz was run out by a sharp direct hit from Suryakumar, caught napping without grounding his bat. India’s fielding woes persisted, with Shubman Gill dropping an easy catch at deep mid-wicket, offering Faheem Ashraf a lifeline. Jasprit Bumrah had an uncharacteristically expensive day, finishing wicketless with 45 runs from his four overs. Ultimately, Pakistan concluded their innings at 171/5, heavily assisted by India’s continued fumbles, including another dropped catch by Shivam Dube at third man, which resulted in a late six for Faheem. Despite the five dropped chances, India’s bowlers managed to contain Pakistan’s scoring, leaving the match finely balanced for the chase.