NEW DELHI: After Kuldeep Yadav’s three-wicket burst, supported by two wickets each from Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah, restricted Pakistan to 127/9 in 20 overs in their Asia Cup 2025 clash in Dubai, it was Abhishek Sharma who lit up the stadium with a dazzling batting display.Opening alongside Shubman Gill, Abhishek walked out for the chase, exchanged fist bumps, and took his guard. Shaheen Afridi, who had earlier struck a few towering sixes to drag Pakistan to a respectable total, was expected to unleash his trademark thunderbolts with the new ball.But Abhishek had other plans.He cracked Shaheen’s very first delivery through the covers for four and followed it up by launching him over long-off for a six, giving India a flying start. When Shaheen returned for his second over, Abhishek attacked again—driving the first ball for four and then clearing the mid-wicket fence on the third delivery.Abhishek’s blistering cameo ended on 31 off just 13 balls, decorated with four boundaries and two sixes, before he was dismissed by Saim Ayub.After the match, Abhishek took to social media with a simple two-word message: “Jai Hind”.
India went on to beat Pakistan by seven wickets.
