India defeated Pakistan easily in their Asia Cup 2025 Group A clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The Indian bowlers, led by Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakaravarthy, kept Pakistan down to just 127 runs. Suryakumar Yadav, celebrating his birthday, guided the chase with an unbeaten 47. With this seven-wicket victory, India remains on top of the group and look set for the semifinals. (Full Scorecard)
No handshake at the toss and the end of the match set the mood
The evening began on a tense note. India skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha could not shake hands after the toss. The incident was a tense moment, which was reflective of strained India-Pakistan relations. The match, then, was not only of sports relevance but also a political symbolism subtext as well.
Following the match, too, the Indian cricket players showed no signs of forgetting or forgiving. They didn’t shake hands with the Pakistani players after the game. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the victory to the Indian Armed Forces and conveyed his team’s solidarity with the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack during the post-match presentation.
Pakistan struggle against spin attack
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat. They hoped for a strong start, but India’s bowlers struck early. Hardik Pandya dismissed Saim Ayub for a duck, and Jasprit Bumrah cleaned up Mohammad Haris soon after.
Once the spinners came into play, Pakistan collapsed. Kuldeep Yadav finished with figures of 3/18 in four overs, making him unplayable. Batters were baffled by his accuracy and variations. Axar Patel added two wickets, while Varun trapped Faheem Ashraf LBW.
At 64/6 in the 13th over, Pakistan were in serious trouble. At that point, even reaching 100 seemed uncertain
Shaheen Afridi adds late runs
Pakistan found some hope through their fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who played a surprising cameo with the bat. Batting at number nine, he smashed 33 runs off just 16 deliveries, including four towering sixes. Two of them came off Hardik Pandya’s bowling in the 20th over.
Thanks to Afridi’s clean hitting, Pakistan reached 127/9. Without his effort, the score would have looked far worse.
India’s chase begins with fireworks
India’s target was only 128, and the batters never looked under pressure. Abhishek Sharma attacked from the first over, hitting Shaheen Afridi for a four and a six. He went on to score 31 runs from just 13 balls, giving India a dream start.
Shubman Gill fell early, and Tilak Varma was bowled by Saim Ayub after a brief stand. But the run rate was always under control because of Abhishek’s quick scoring.
Birthday heroics from Suryakumar Yadav
Captain Suryakumar Yadav anchored the innings after the quick wickets. He played a calm but confident knock, staying unbeaten on 47 from 37 balls. To lead India to safety, he and Tilak Varma put together a 56-run partnership.
Suryakumar struck a six over midwicket to cap off the game in style On his birthday, the captain showed both responsibility and flair. His knock was the perfect finishing touch to India’s chase.
Kuldeep Yadav – Player of the Match again
For his three wickets, Kuldeep Yadav was named Player of the Match for the second consecutive game. He said at the presentation:
“I just tried to keep it simple and stick to my plan. The first ball should always be a wicket-taking one. Whoever is new at the crease gives you an opening.”
Kuldeep’s consistent form is proving vital for India’s campaign. His ability to break partnerships is setting him apart from other bowlers in this tournament.
Current Group A standings
India’s win takes them to the top of Group A with four points from two matches. Pakistan stay second with two points. Oman and UAE are still looking for their first points.
Table snapshot:
- India – 4 points (2 matches)
- Pakistan – 2 points (2 matches)
- Oman – 0 points (1 match)
- UAE – 0 points (1 match)
Turning points of the match
Here are the defining moments that tilted the contest:
- Hardik Pandya’s early strike of Saim Ayub.
- Kuldeep Yadav’s double breakthrough in the middle overs.
- Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 31 in the powerplay.
- Suryakumar Yadav’s composed, unbeaten 47 on his birthday.
- Each moment added pressure on Pakistan and ensured India always stayed in control.
What’s ahead for both sides
India will next face Oman. A victory there will confirm their place in the semifinals. With both batting and bowling clicking, the team looks balanced and confident.
Pakistan will now meet UAE. Their bowlers have shown effort, but the batting order must improve. Relying on Shaheen Afridi’s cameos at number nine will not win big games.
For fans, this contest added another exciting chapter to the historic rivalry. But once again, India showed why they hold the edge in multi-nation tournaments.
Conclusion
India defeated Pakistan, winning by seven wickets with more than four overs left. Kuldeep’s spell, Abhishek’s fireworks, and Suryakumar’s birthday knock made the difference. India now sit firmly on top of Group A, looking ready for bigger challenges ahead. Pakistan must bounce back quickly if they are to stay alive in the tournament.
