India put in a dominant display in perhaps their biggest match of 2025. Facing arch rivals Pakistan, the Men in Blue clinched a dominant 7-wicket win at the Asia Cup 2025. The clash, which met with great furore on social media, began and ended with a statement from captain Suryakumar Yadav on Sunday.
Pakistan mustered a lowly 127/9 after being put into bat. Kuldeep Yadav was once again the pick of the bowlers, with spinners 6 of the 9 wickets to fall. In response, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav all made telling contributions to finish the game inside 16 overs. Here, we look at the all the highlights from the IND vs PAK clash:
Surya learns his lesson, no handshake
A video of Suryakumar Yadav shaking ACC and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi at the captains’ press conference went viral in the days leading up to the clash. So when the D-Day arrived, the Indian captain was locked in and focused on job in hand. He won the toss and did not shake Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha’s hand. After the game, Surya and Shivam Dube walked straight back to the pavilion, showing no remorse. Pakistan team led by Salman Agha came out in a queue waited for Indian players but no one came. It was a demolition job in Dubai.
Extreme heat or boycott buzz? Dubai stands empty
Several seats throughout the Dubai International Cricket Stadium were unoccupied during the India vs Pakistan game on Sunday. In fact, hundreds of tickets were still available for sale on the day of the game. This comes despite ACC slashing their ticket prices for the game. Reports suggest the heat is a major factor in drawing less fans. However, another major reason could be the boycott calls. Fans in India called for the game to be boycotted in solidarity with the armed forces.
Spin it to win it
India’s spin trio was at it once again, weaving another win for the Men in Blue. The spinners bowled 13 overs in total, including 12 consecutive ones from the 7th to the 18th. They conceded a measly 65 runs and took 6 wickets. Even part-timer Abhishek Sharma chipped in with a 5-run over. In contrast, Pakistan spinners barring Abrar Ahmed were off their lines. ‘Best spinner’ Mohammed Nawaz conceded at 9, while Sufyan Muqeem conceded in excess of 10. The difference in quality was as stark as it could get.
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