An India–Pakistan clash is usually the heartbeat of any global cricket tournament. Yet, the buzz was conspicuously missing from Sunday’s Asia Cup 2025 encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which remained partially empty despite the high-voltage rivalry.
The match was also their first meeting since the barbaric terror attacks in Pahalgam that claimed 26 innocent Indian lives.
On the field too, camaraderie was absent. That could partly be attributed to the fact that more than half the players on either side were facing each other for the first time in their careers.
The pressure, however, was heavier on Pakistan after skipper Salman Ali Agha elected to bat on winning the toss. They struggled to get past 100 before Shaheen Shah Afridi’s late burst lifted them to a modest 127/9.
On a fresh track offering turn, Pakistan’s inexperienced top order faltered against a relentless Indian attack. Hardik Pandya struck in the very first over, removing young Saim Ayub for a second-ball duck, before Jasprit Bumrah dismissed wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris (3) in the next over.
Reduced to 6/2, Pakistan desperately needed stability. Fakhar Zaman (17), their most experienced batter against India, briefly provided it with some audacious strokes, including a six off Bumrah, during his 39-run stand with opener Sahibzada Farhan. But Axar Patel broke the partnership to restore India’s grip.
Pakistan’s long-standing frailty against quality left-arm spin was brutally exposed by Axar and wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Axar first dismissed Fakhar and then skipper Salman Ali Agha (3) to leave Pakistan wobbling at 49/4.
Kuldeep soon joined the carnage, removing Hasan Nawaz (5) and Mohammad Nawaz (0) off successive deliveries, narrowly missing a hat-trick. The Indian spinners looked menacing enough to claim a wicket every ball, ruthlessly exposing Pakistan’s middle order.
Kuldeep later returned to dismiss top-scorer Farhan (40), while Varun Chakravarthy trapped Faheem Ashraf (15) plumb in front, reducing Pakistan to 97/8.
In the dying stages, tailenders Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem swung freely to compensate for Pakistan’s more than 50 dot balls. Their brief resistance added 13 runs before Bumrah dismissed Muqeem. Afridi, however, capped the innings with a couple of sixes off Hardik to lift his side to some semblance of respectability.
Brief Scores: Pakistan 127/9 (Sahibzada Farhan 40, Shaheen Shah Afridi 33*; Kuldeep Yadav 3/18, Axar Patel 2/28, Jasprit Bumrah 2/28) vs India.