India clinched a thrilling six-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in a Super Four Asia Cup match held in Dubai. The win, however, didn’t come without a few nervy moments and some notable fielding mishaps from the Indian side.
Following the match, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav light-heartedly addressed the team’s “butterfingers.” He humorously revealed that fielding coach T Dilip had already sent out an email summoning the players responsible for the dropped catches to his office.
“The fielding coach has sent an email to the boys, who had buttered fingers, to appear before him at his office. But this happens, it is a part of the game. I am okay with it because it happened in the first game itself, and we have more crucial games to go,” Suryakumar stated during the post-match press conference.
Indeed, several crucial catches were put down by Indian fielders, including Kuldeep Yadav, Shubman Gill, and Abhishek Sharma. These errors allowed Pakistan to build a competitive total of 171/5.
Abhishek Sharma of India reacts after taking a catch to dismiss Saim Ayub of Pakistan. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Despite these early setbacks in the field, a magnificent century partnership between Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill proved to be the cornerstone of India’s successful chase. Suryakumar Yadav also commented on the favorable batting conditions, emphasizing the importance of strategic play in the middle overs.
“The team which will play good cricket from over 7 to 15 will have an upper hand. You have to be smarter with your plans in the finish. In powerplay, the ball is hard and you can time it well, but after that, you have to bat smartly. That is what we did today,” he explained.
The Indian captain also highlighted Shivam Dube’s bowling as a pivotal moment in the game. Dube delivered an impressive spell, claiming two wickets for just 33 runs in his four overs.
“The drinks during the first innings was a turning point. When bowlers changed their line and lengths, showed more energy, spinners bowled well. Shivam Dube’s spell was a turning point in the game. He has been working hard on his bowling. This was a perfect game for him. He always wanted to bowl two overs minimum, but he got four today, and he was very happy. He was very clear with his plans. This makes my job easier,” Suryakumar elaborated.
After winning the toss, India opted to field first. Pakistan’s innings was anchored by a strong 72-run partnership between Sahibzada Farhan, who scored 58 off 45 balls, and Saim Ayub, contributing 21 from 17 deliveries. Later, quickfire contributions from Mohammed Nawaz (21 off 19) and Faheem Ashraf (20 not out off 8) helped Pakistan reach their total of 171/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
India’s bowling effort saw Shivam Dube take two wickets, while Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya each secured one wicket.
In response, Abhishek Sharma led the charge with a spectacular, match-winning knock of 74 runs from just 39 balls, featuring six fours and five sixes. Shubman Gill provided solid support, adding 47 runs off 28 balls with eight boundaries. Despite Haris Rauf’s best efforts, taking two wickets for 26 runs, the steady hands of Tilak Varma (30 not out) and Hardik Pandya (7 not out) steered India to victory with seven balls to spare.
Abhishek Sharma’s explosive batting performance rightfully earned him the Player of the Match award, showcasing his ability to shine even after the team’s early fielding lapses.