Pakistan and India met again in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four stage, and honestly, it felt like Deja vu. Same venue, same match referee Andy Pycroft, same awkward no-handshake moment, and unfortunately, the same result. India once again proved too good for Pakistan, cruising to a six-wicket victory with seven balls to spare.
Toss, Drama, and Early Promises
Pakistan actually wanted to bowl first, but Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and didn’t hesitate to put Pakistan in to bat. The mood was tense from the get-go. Both captains, once again, walked past each other without so much as a glance, let alone a handshake. That in itself tells you how deep the cracks are between the two camps.
On the field, Pakistan made a few changes, tweaking the batting order. Fakhar Zaman replaced Saim Ayub at the top alongside Sahibzada Farhan, and for a brief moment, it seemed like the move might pay off.
Fakhar came out swinging, cracking three early boundaries, but his knock ended quickly after a debated third-umpire call gave Hardik Pandya the breakthrough.
Farhan Stands Tall, Others Drift Away
If there was one silver lining, it was Sahibzada Farhan. He played with intent, scoring a fighting 58 off 45 balls, mixing five fours with three clean sixes. His partnerships kept Pakistan afloat, first with Saim Ayub (21) and later briefly with Hussain Talat (10). But once Farhan departed, the innings lost momentum.
Captain Salman Ali Agha chipped in with 17 not out, Mohammad Nawaz added 21, and Faheem Ashraf’s late cameo of 20 off just eight balls provided a bit of spark. Still, 171/5 always felt like a total that needed extraordinary bowling to defend, and extraordinary bowling is exactly what Pakistan didn’t have.
Indian Batters Expose Pakistan’s Bowling
India’s chase was ruthless. Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill launched a blistering opening stand of 105 in less than 10 overs. Pakistan’s bowlers, who were supposed to show some fight, looked like they were going through the motions.
Fielders stood with slumped shoulders, and the energy that’s so vital in these contests was nowhere to be seen.
Gill eventually fell for 47, bowled by Faheem Ashraf, while Suryakumar Yadav perished for a duck against Haris Rauf. But by then, India was already in cruise control. Abhishek Sharma’s sparkling 74 off 39 balls, decorated with five sixes, was the real dagger in Pakistan’s hopes.
Even when wickets fell, there was no real pressure. Tilak Varma calmly finished things off with 30 not out, while Pandya was happy to play second fiddle. India wrapped it up with time and wickets in hand, making Pakistan’s total look far below par.
Where Does Pakistan Go From Here?
This is where it gets worrying. Two matches in a row against India and Pakistan have not just lost, they’ve looked second-rate. Yes, Farhan showed some fight with the bat, but where were the others? The bowling, especially, looked toothless. No plans, no energy, no belief.
And let’s be honest, all the off-field drama, the handshake saga, Pycroft’s apology, PCB’s letters, it doesn’t matter if the team can’t back it up on the pitch. Fans don’t want statements; they want performances. India, despite their own distractions, is doing the talking with the bat and ball.
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