Sahibzada Farhan led Pakistan’s fight with 58 runs, but India’s bowlers struck crucial blows to keep the game under control and ensure a tense finish.
BY PC Bureau
September 21, 2025: In a pulsating Super 4 clash of the Asia Cup, India pulled off a thrilling six-wicket victory over Pakistan, chasing down a target of 172 runs with nerves of steel and timely aggression.
Pakistan, batting first, posted a competitive total of 171 in their 20 overs. The innings was held together by Sahibzada Farhan, who struck a resilient 52 runs, providing the backbone of the Pakistani total. Faheem Ashraf chipped in with a useful 20, while Salman Ali Agha added 17 runs. Despite these efforts, India’s bowlers struck crucial blows at the right moments, with Shivam Dube shining as the wicket-taker who stemmed Pakistan’s late momentum.
Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill set a new benchmark for India’s opening pair, putting together a scintillating 105-run partnership. The left-right duo surpassed the previous record of 77, set by Gautam Gambhir and Ajinkya Rahane in 2012, when India had ultimately fallen short in a chase of 134.
From the outset, Abhishek and Gill dominated Pakistan’s bowlers, racing past the 100-run mark with apparent ease. Their aggressive strokeplay during the Powerplay kept Pakistan on the back foot. The partnership finally ended in the 10th over, as Gill, after a brief break for physio attention, seemed to lose his rhythm and was clean bowled by Faheem Ashraf for 47 off 28 balls, including eight boundaries at a strike rate of 167.86.
At the fall of the first wicket, India’s score read 105/1 in 9.5 overs, with Abhishek Sharma continuing his blistering innings on 57 off 31 balls, striking at 183.87.
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The chase was not without its tense moments. India lost three quick wickets including that of captain Suryakumar Yadav who was out for a duck after crossing the halfway mark, but the composure and experience of its middle order ensured the required run rate remained manageable. With calculated aggression and smart running between the wickets, India crossed the finish line, securing a 6-wicket triumph and keeping their Super 4 campaign firmly on track. Tilak Verma scored a quickfire 30 in 19 balls.
Earlier, Pakistan had set a target of 171/5 in 20 overs, with Sahibzada Farhan top-scoring at 58. Faheem Ashraf and Salman Ali Agha contributed quick cameos, but India’s bowlers, led by Shivam Dube with two wickets, alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya, ensured the total remained chaseable.
The victory not only reinforced India’s dominance in high-pressure encounters against Pakistan but also showcased the depth of their batting lineup. Abhishek Sharma’s match-winning innings, combined with timely breakthroughs from the bowlers, proved decisive in this memorable contest.
India will now look to carry this momentum into their upcoming Super 4 matches, while Pakistan will regroup and seek redemption in their remaining encounters.
🏏 Pakistan Innings – 171/5 (20 Overs)
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes | SR |
| Sahibzada Farhan | 58 | 45 | 5 | 3 | 128.89 |
| Saim Ayub | 21 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 123.52 |
| Fakhar Zaman | 15 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 166.67 |
| Salman Ali Agha | 17* | 13 | 1 | 0 | 130.77 |
| Hussain Talat | 10 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 90.91 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 21 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 110.53 |
| Faheem Ashraf | 20* | 8 | 1 | 1 | 250.00 |
| Shaheen Afridi | DNB | ||||
| Haris Rauf | DNB | ||||
| Abrar Ahmed | DNB |
DNB: Did Not Bat
Key Highlights:
- Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with 58 runs, anchoring Pakistan’s innings.
- Faheem Ashraf provided a late surge, remaining unbeaten on 20* off just 8 balls.
- India’s bowlers, including Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy, took key wickets to restrict Pakistan’s total.
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PAK inningsIND innings
BATTERS RUNS B 4s 6s SR Abhishek Sharma 74 39 6 5 189.7 c Haris Rauf b Abrar Ahmed Shubman Gill 47 28 8 0 167.9 b Faheem Ashraf Suryakumar Yadav (c) 0 3 0 0 0.0 c Abrar Ahmed b Haris Rauf Tilak Varma 30 19 2 2 157.9 not out Sanju Samson (wk) 13 17 1 0 76.5 b Haris Rauf Hardik Pandya 7 7 1 0 100.0 not out Extras3 (wd 3)TOTAL174/4 (18.5)FALL OF WICKETS SCORE Shubman Gill 105/1 (9.5) Suryakumar Yadav 106/2 (10.3) Abhishek Sharma 123/3 (12.2) Sanju Samson 148/4 (16.4) BOWLERS O MO RUNS WKTS ECO Shaheen Afridi 3.5 0 40 0 10.4 Saim Ayub 3.0 0 35 0 11.7 Abrar Ahmed 4.0 0 42 1 10.5 Haris Rauf 4.0 0 26 2 6.5 Faheem Ashraf 4.0 0 31 1 7.8
