India achieved their highest successful chase in Asia Cup T20 history with a thrilling six-wicket win over Pakistan in the Super Four clash in Dubai on Sunday. Chasing a target of 172, India made the tricky task look comfortable, thanks to a masterclass from Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill.
Image Caption: Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma of India
Sharma was brutal and beautiful in equal measure, smashing an explosive 74 off just 39 balls, decorated with six fours and five sixes. His blistering opening partnership with Shubman Gill, who contributed a fluent 47 from 28 balls, added a dominant 105 runs and decisively set the tone for India’s successful chase. The duo, friends since their Punjab U-12 days, sent the Pakistani bowlers on a leather hunt, with Sharma notably hooking a six off the very first ball from Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Despite a few on-field skirmishes, including Haris Rauf’s confrontational gestures and celebrations, the Indian team maintained its focus and composure. Shivam Dube’s crucial bowling spell in Pakistan’s innings, where he claimed key wickets, was instrumental in restricting the opposition to a chaseable total of 171/5. Pakistan had initially benefited from a strong 72-run opening partnership between Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub, coupled with some costly dropped catches from Indian fielders.
Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 30, alongside Hardik Pandya, skillfully guided India to victory with seven balls to spare. This ensured a calm finish to the innings, even after a brief mini-collapse in the middle overs. While Jasprit Bumrah had an off day with the ball, the scintillating batting performance from Sharma and Gill effectively carried India through.
As Suryakumar Kumar aptly noted regarding the opening pair, “They complement each other perfectly.”
This magnificent chase surpassed India’s previous highest in the Asia Cup, which was a 148-run chase against Pakistan in the 2022 edition. It also emphatically reaffirmed their dominance in high-pressure matches, marking India’s 172-run chase in Dubai on Sunday as the highest of their eight successful run-chases against Pakistan.
India’s record-breaking performance flawlessly combined class, composure, and aggression, solidifying its place as one of the most memorable Super Four clashes in recent Asia Cup history.