The highly anticipated India-Pakistan matchup in the 2025 Asia Cup on Sunday, September 14, fell short of expectations. The Men in Blue demolished Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, moving one step closer to the tournament’s Super Four stage. The UAE defeated Oman on Monday, allowing India to advance to the next round of the eight-team event.
Pakistan could only produce 127/9 in 20 overs after choosing to bat first on Sunday. In reply, India cruised home in 15.5 overs with seven wickets remaining. After Kuldeep Yadav shined with the ball, taking three wickets, captain Suryakumar Yadav led his squad to victory, hitting an unbeaten 47 off 37 balls.
After the lopsided match ended, Irfan Pathan predicted that India’s home teams, such as Mumbai and Punjab, might defeat Pakistan’s current squad.
The 2007 T20 World Cup winner believes that many Indian Premier League sides can beat Salman Ali Agha’s squad.
“If you ask which of our domestic teams can beat Pakistan, I know for sure Mumbai can beat them. Punjab can beat them. Next, which IPL team can beat Pakistan? A lot of them,” Pathan said on Sony Sports Network.
More of a practice match for the future: Abhishek Nayar
Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar said that while Pakistan stuffed their bowling attack with a plethora of spinners, the ploy didn’t make any difference whatsoever. The 41-year-old said that the match seemed more like a practice match for the future of the Indian team.
“We were thinking about how to build up the game. Pakistan came with spinners and did not have fast bowlers. Their bowling was different, but there was no actual difference. From the start to end, after winning the toss and batting first to the chase, Pakistan were not in the competition at all. India were playing versus India, and it was more of a practice match for the future,” Nayar reflected in the same conversation with Pathan.
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