NEW DELHI: Former India spinner Amit Mishra took to social media to applaud India’s commanding performance against arch-rivals Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, following a six-wicket victory at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The contest was fiery from the onset. Chasing a target of 172, India’s dynamic opening pair, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, tore through Pakistan’s formidable pace attack. They forged a blistering 105-run partnership in a mere nine overs. Sharma was exceptional, smashing a scintillating 74 runs off just 39 balls, including six boundaries and five towering sixes, while Gill contributed a rapid 47 off 28 deliveries. Their explosive start propelled India to 100 runs in just 8.4 overs, effectively silencing Pakistan’s much-hyped bowling unit and setting the stage for India to comfortably chase down 174/4 in 18.5 overs.
Mishra took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his views, emphasizing India’s supremacy. He wrote, “Crushing win for the Indian team, showing Pakistan its place. It’s not about individual celebrations or nasty comments like certain Pakistan players did, it’s about what the team does. Pakistan was about theatrics while India was at their professional best. Well done!!!” His post, accompanied by match photos (featuring Team India), perfectly captured the essence of India’s dominant display.
The match was as intense off the field as it was on it. Abhishek Sharma aggressively targeted Shaheen Afridi, hitting a top-edged six and engaging in verbal exchanges. Shubman Gill made eye contact with Afridi after a superb boundary. Later, Abhishek and Haris Rauf had a heated mid-pitch confrontation, requiring umpire intervention.
Notably, Indian players chose not to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts for the second time in the tournament, further underscoring the simmering rivalry.
This decisive victory marked India’s second consecutive win against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025. It highlighted India’s disciplined and composed approach in high-pressure situations, contrasting sharply with what Mishra described as Pakistan’s ‘theatrics’. Mishra’s social media commentary solidified the narrative of India’s superior team focus and performance.