How Did Suryakumar Yadav Celebrate His 35th Birthday with a Win Over Pakistan?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Suryakumar Yadav celebrated his birthday with a match-winning performance.
- India's spin attack effectively restricted Pakistan to a low total.
- Strong contributions from the middle order solidified India's dominance.
- The match highlighted the significance of sports in bridging diplomatic tensions.
- India's second consecutive win boosts their momentum in the tournament.
Dubai, Sep 14 (NationPress) India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav marked his 35th birthday in spectacular fashion, scoring an impressive unbeaten 47 off 37 balls, leading his team to a dominant seven-wicket victory against Pakistan in a crucial Group A match of the 2025 Men's T20 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
In pursuit of 128 runs, India achieved their target with 25 balls to spare, demonstrating their superiority in every facet of the game. After the match, Suryakumar and Shivam Dube (10 not out) exited the field quickly, with players opting out of handshakes once again in a match that took place amid heightened diplomatic tensions earlier this year.
The chase was bolstered by significant contributions from Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma, both left-handed batsmen scoring 31 runs each, as India celebrated their second consecutive victory in the tournament.
Earlier, India’s spin-heavy approach proved effective for the second consecutive match. Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav spearheaded the bowling attack with remarkable figures of 3-18, while Axar Patel supported with 2-18. Varun Chakaravarthy also made his mark with 1-24, as the trio exhibited exceptional control on a sluggish Dubai pitch, limiting Pakistan to 127/9.
The slow surface in Dubai further favored India's spinners, whose precision and variations left Pakistan struggling for momentum during their innings. Though Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with 40 runs, a late surge from Shaheen Shah Afridi, who made a quick 33 off 16 balls, provided some respectability to Pakistan's total, which ultimately fell short against a powerful Indian batting lineup.
Brief 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 41 not out, Abhishek Sharma 31; Saim Ayub 3-22) by seven wickets.