Dubai: Abhishek Sharma’s whirlwind knock stole the show as India squared off against Pakistan in a high-stakes Asia Cup Super Four clash at the Dubai International Stadium here on Sunday night.
Sharma raced to his 50 in just 24 balls, the second-fastest in India-Pakistan T20I history, smashing a full toss from Saim Ayub through the covers for four and sealing his spot among the greats of the fixture.
Sharma’s explosive innings placed him in elite company: only Mohammad Hafeez (23 balls, Ahmedabad 2012) scored a faster 50 in India-Pakistan T20Is, while Yuvraj Singh (29 balls, Ahmedabad 2012), Iftikhar Ahmed (32 balls, Melbourne 2022), and Misbah-ul-Haq (33 balls, Durban 2007) trail behind him in the record books.
The dashing India opener raised his bat to the dugout, blowing a flying kiss, while Gautam Gambhir applauded the audacious display from the commentary box. His innings, packed with daring drives and flawless timing, put India firmly in control. It was the kind of knock that makes one sit up and applaud, reminiscent of the great attacking innings in cricket, blending fearlessness with elegance.
Yet cricket remains a team sport, and India’s bowlers complemented Sharma’s fireworks. Varun Chakravarthy spun a tight web around Pakistan’s batsmen, using sharp turn and clever variations to stifle the scoring rate.
Shivam Dube’s contribution with both ball and fielding turned crucial moments into pressure points, ensuring Pakistan never fully recovered from their early wobble. Every dot ball and boundary saved added to the tension, the kind of subtle chess that fans would have savoured, showing cricket is as much about guile as it is about power.
Buoyed by Sharma’s blazing innings and supported by disciplined spells from Varun Chakravarthy and Shivam Dube, India now looks firmly in control, poised to dictate the course of this electrifying Super Four encounters.
