Asia Cup: How Did Kuldeep, Axar, and Surya Lead India to a Commanding Victory Over Pakistan?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Suryakumar Yadav established his dominance with a crucial innings.
- India's bowling attack proved effective against Pakistan's lineup.
- The match highlighted the importance of teamwork and strategy.
- India's performance boosts their confidence in the tournament.
- Diplomatic tensions did not overshadow the spirit of the game.
Dubai, Sep 14 (NationPress) Suryakumar Yadav marked his 35th birthday with a phenomenal performance, scoring an unbeaten 47 runs off 37 deliveries, steering India to a convincing seven-wicket triumph against Pakistan during a high-stakes Group A match of the 2025 Men's T20 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium this past Sunday.
The target of 128 was easily achievable, and India comfortably reached their goal with 25 balls remaining. The reigning T20 World Cup champions showcased their dominance over Pakistan in every facet of the game.
After the match, Suryakumar and Shivam Dube (10 not out) exited quickly, with no handshakes exchanged between players or support staff. This was significant as it marked the first encounter since diplomatic tensions escalated between the two nations earlier this year.
India's successful chase was bolstered by solid contributions from Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma - both left-handed batsmen scoring 31 runs each, as India notched their second consecutive victory in the tournament, improving their net run rate.
Abhishek ignited India's innings with a striking shot over the umpire's head for a four, followed by a powerful six over long-off. Shubman Gill added two exquisite fours off Saim Ayub before being stumped for 10.
Abhishek maintained his aggressive approach, sending Shaheen behind point for a four and then clearing mid-wicket for six. He punished Ayub with consecutive boundaries before falling to Ayub's bowling for 31 off just 13 balls. Tilak countered with two fantastic fours off Mohammad Nawaz, as India finished the power-play at 61/2.
With Suryakumar looking in fine form, hitting precise boundaries against spinners, Tilak continued the momentum by slog-sweeping Muqeem for an enormous 98m six. He was almost dismissed on 30 when Nawaz dropped a catch after three attempts.
Tilak was eventually out for 31 when Ayub's delivery turned sharply to dislodge his off-stump. Suryakumar pressed on, cutting and smashing Nawaz for two boundaries before sweeping Ayub for another four, while Dube also lofted Ayub over long-on for six. Suryakumar sealed the chase in style with a six off Muqeem, wrapping up the match decisively.
Summary of Scores:
Pakistan: 127/9 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 40, Shaheen Shah Afridi 33 not out; Kuldeep Yadav 3-18, Axar Patel 2-18) lost to India: 131/3 in 15.5 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 47 not out, Abhishek Sharma 31; Saim Ayub 3-22) by seven wickets