The highly anticipated India vs Pakistan Super Four clash of the Asia Cup 2025 lived up to the hype at the Dubai International Stadium. Pakistan, batting first after India chose to bowl, set a competitive total of 172 runs, with opener S. Farhan leading the charge. But the bigger talking point of the innings was Jasprit Bumrah’s rare off day, as the Indian pace ace conceded 45 runs in his four overs.
India’s Bowling Start: Mixed Fortune
Winning the toss, India captain opted to bowl first. Hardik Pandya opened with discipline, even though an early catch of S. Farhan was dropped by Abhishek Sharma. Pakistan’s openers tried to unsettle Bumrah by stepping out and attacking him with boundaries. Pandya struck in the third over, removing Fakhar Zaman with a clever slower delivery.
The introduction of spin in the fifth over saw Varun Chakravarthy and later Kuldeep Yadav testing the batters, but India’s fielding lapses continued. Another catch of Farhan was dropped, allowing Pakistan to capitalize. By the end of the powerplay, Pakistan were comfortably placed at 55/1.
Bumrah’s Off Day Hurts India
Known for his economy and accuracy, Jasprit Bumrah struggled with rhythm. He bowled a no-ball early on and was taken apart by Pakistan’s batters. Uncharacteristically, Bumrah finished as India’s most expensive bowler, giving away 45 runs in his four overs. His off day shifted the momentum in Pakistan’s favor.
Pakistan’s Innings Breakdown
At 91/1 in 10 overs, Pakistan looked solid with the Farhan–Ayub partnership. Shivam Dubey provided the breakthrough, dismissing Ayub for 21. Soon after, Kuldeep removed Hussain cheaply, and Shivam Dubey made an impact by dismissing Sahibzada Farhan , who top-scored with 58 off 45 balls.
Despite a slight dip in scoring after Farhan’s dismissal, Pakistan managed to reach 171/5 in 20 overs, giving their bowlers a fighting target.
India’s Chase: Pressure on Openers
Chasing 172 under lights in Dubai is never easy, and India’s focus will be on how their openers handle the powerplay against Pakistan’s pace attack. With Bumrah having an off day, the pressure now shifts to India’s batting unit to deliver in this high-stakes encounter.