Tilak Varma remained unbeaten in the chase to take India over the line.
Legendary Sunil Gavaskar has lauded India’s blockbuster batting performance in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (September 21).
Chasing 172 to win, Abhishek Sharma (74 off 39) and Shubman Gill (47 off 28) took the Pakistani bowling attack to the cleaners, sharing a fiery 105-run opening stand to put the Men in Blue on the brink of victory.
After their dismissals, Tilak Varma took the matter into his hands and remained unbeaten on 30 off 19 balls to propel India over the line with six wickets and seven deliveries to spare.
Gavaskar was particularly effusive in his praise for Tilak, who dominated Pakistan’s pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi to close out the match. Shaheen leaked 40 runs in his 3.5 overs without claiming a wicket.
“When the second match came along, there was an improved batting performance by Pakistan in the first half before the loss of three wickets put them on the back foot again, and despite getting big runs in the final three overs, they were 20 runs shorter than what they would have wanted,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.
“India breezed to a win after a delightful opening partnership between Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill that took the breath away and crushed any hopes the Pakistanis had of winning the game. In the end, another super-talented batter, Tilak Varma, treated Pakistan’s premier bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, like a net-ball spinner and smashed him around to wrap a win with deliveries to spare,” he added.
Pakistan pacers tried to get under the skin of Abhishek and Shubman by hurling some expletives but their tactics backfired as both Indian openers produced fireworks to make light work of the run chase.
“Of course, there were no handshakes but only head shakes from the Pakistan bowlers as to how to bowl to these Indian batters who start the game in fifth gear. There are a few days left before India’s next game, and it will be interesting to see what excuses the Pakistanis come up with this time for another drubbing from the country they love to hate,” Gavaskar remarked.
India find themselves on top of the Super 4s points table after the win over Pakistan, with their Net Run Rate currently at +0.689. Pakistan, on the other hand, are facing a must-win situation in the remaining Super 4 fixtures to stay alive in the tournament.