Team India registered a thumping seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in their second group-stage match of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (September 14).

Opting to bat first, Pakistan’s innings was restricted to 127/9 in 20 overs. Kuldeep Yadav (3-18) and Axar Patel (2-18) led the charge, tightening the screws with stunning spells. Jasprit Bumrah (2-28), Varun Chakaravarthy (1-24) and Hardik Pandya (1-34) shared the remaining five scalps among them.

In reply, the defending champions got over the finishing line with 25 deliveries to spare. While Abhishek Sharma stole the show with 13-ball 31 at the top, skipper Suryakumar Yadav finished the job with 37-ball 47*. Tilak Varma also contributed run-a-ball 31.

After the outcome, former skipper Sourav Ganguly said that the recent India vs Pakistan fixtures are a mismatch with the Men in Blue far ahead of their counterparts.

“Pakistan is no match. I say that with respect just because I see what the team is, it’s the lack of quality in the side. The Indian team played this game without Virat and Rohit, who were stalwarts for such a long time,” Ganguly said in a video shared by PTI on Monday.

“India are too far ahead in cricket. From Pakistan and any of these Asia Cup teams. There’ll be one or two days when they’ll get beaten but majority of the days, they’ll be the best team. And I was not surprised with what I saw. I actually stopped watching after the first 15 overs and I was watching Manchester City play Manchester United last night. Because there is no competition any more in India vs Pakistan,” he added.

Ganguly further stated that the modern Pakistan team lacked the X-factor of the teams of yesteryears which had the likes of legends such as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar and Javed Miandad.

“I always say, we think about Pakistan as the Wasim Akrams, the Waqar Younises, the Saeed Anwars and Javed Miandads. Pakistan of this modern age and Pakistan of that era is chalk and cheese so it’s not a competition any more. I’d rather watch India play Australia and India play South Africa as well as England, Sri Lanka and even Afghanistan. I don’t think India-Pakistan is a contest anymore. We keep hyping it and in the last 5 years, every hype has been shattered. It’s just been one-way traffic,” Ganguly remarked.

With two wins from as many matches, India sit on top of the Group A points table. With a place in the next round, the Super 4s, all but confirmed, they will take on Oman in their final group-stage match in Abu Dhabi on September 19.

The Salman Ali Agha-led Pakistan side will now face hosts UAE in their final group-stage match on September 17 in Dubai.