India clinched a six-wicket win against Pakistan in their Super Four Asia Cup encounter in Dubai. Despite some notable fielding errors, the Indian squad, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, successfully chased down Pakistan’s target of 171/5, thanks in large part to a brilliant century partnership between Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill.
The match saw several opportunities missed by Indian fielders, including Kuldeep Yadav, Shubman Gill, and Abhishek Sharma themselves, which allowed Pakistan to reach a challenging total.
Addressing the issue with a touch of humor during the post-match press conference, Suryakumar Yadav quipped, “The fielding coach has sent an email to the boys who had buttered fingers, asking them to report to his office.” He added, “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 ahead.”
Yadav highlighted that the batting conditions were favorable and emphasized the strategic importance of playing smart cricket between overs 7 and 15. “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 praised Shivam Dube’s bowling performance, calling it a crucial turning point. Dube’s spell of 2/33 in four overs was instrumental in restricting Pakistan. “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 noted.
After winning the toss, India chose to field first. Pakistan’s innings was anchored by a solid 72-run partnership between Sahibzada Farhan (58 off 45 balls) and Saim Ayub (21 from 17 balls). Late flourishes from Mohammed Nawaz (21 off 19) and Faheem Ashraf (20 not out off 8) propelled Pakistan to a total of 171/5 within their allotted 20 overs.
For India’s bowling attack, Shivam Dube was the standout performer with two wickets for 33 runs, while Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya each secured one wicket.
In pursuit of the target, Abhishek Sharma played a phenomenal innings, scoring a match-winning 74 from just 39 balls, which included six fours and five sixes. Shubman Gill provided crucial support with 47 runs off 28 balls, featuring eight boundaries. Despite Haris Rauf’s efforts with two wickets for 26 runs, Tilak Varma (30 not out) and Hardik Pandya (7 not out) guided India to victory with seven balls to spare. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive batting earned him the Player of the Match award.