Asia Cup 2025: Suryakumar's blitz, Kuldeep's magic lead India to seven-wicket win over Pakistan

The atmosphere in Dubai is already electric as cricket’s fiercest rivals, India and Pakistan, prepare to face off in the Asia Cup 2025. Packed stands, passionate fans draped in national colours and a charged buzz promise high drama on and off the pitch.

Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first against India in the Asia Cup match at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

Both teams entered the marquee clash with confidence after convincing victories in their respective opening matches. India cruised past hosts UAE with a dominant nine-wicket win, while Pakistan outclassed Hong Kong China by 93 runs.

India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy.

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (capt), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed.

Pakistan lose their first wicket in the very first ball of the innings. Hardik Pandya bowled the first ball a wide but he came back to remove Saim Ayub who gave a comfortable catch to Bumrah at point.

Pakistan are in early trouble as they lose their second wicket in quick succession. This time it was Bumrah who removed Mohammad Haris. The right-hand batter attempted to take the aggressive route but managed to sky it to Pandya at deep-backward. Two balls later Bumrah had another wicket going in his favour after Fakhar Zaman was given out lbw. But Zaman immediately reviews it and gets the decision overturned.

Pakistan reached 34 for two in five overs. Sahibzada Farhan is batting on 11 while Fakhar Zaman is on 16. Fakhar is looking comfortbale scoring three boundaries so far in his knock

Dangerman Fakhar Zaman departs. He was looking confident but steps out to go for a big one off Axar Patel and holes one at long one to Tilak Varma. The early wickets are hampering Pakistan's progress giving the advantage to India at this stage. Pakistan get another review in their favour. Salman Agha given lbw off Varun Chakravathy and he immediately reviews it.

It's not looking good for Pakistan at all. Half way through their innings Pakistan have managed only 49 for four after Salman Agha fell cheaply again. He gets a top edge off Axar Patel for a comfortable catch by Abhishek Sharma in the deep.

Nothing seems to be going right for Pakistan as Pakistan lose two quick wickets in two deliveries to put them in a state of bother. Kuldeep Yadav came up with another impressive show as Pakistan first lost Hasan Nawaz for just five after offering an easy catch to Patel at gully. Mohammad Nawaz immediately departed after getting trapped lbw.

India spinners have completely taken over the game. Runs have dried up for Pakistan as they limp to 74 for six in 15 overs. Except for that one odd boundary, the run flow is not impressive. The fans don't look very excited as it's quickly turning into a one-sided affair

Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliant yorker sends Sufiyan Muqeem back as Pakistan fall nine down. Abrar Ahmed walks in as Bumrah ends his spell with 2/28, putting India in command.

Pakistan's decision to bat first backfired as they managed to reach 127 for nine in 20 overs, setting a reasonably easier target for India.

Pakistan batters were never allowed to settle down as wickets kept falling at regular interval.

Only Sahibazada Farhan spent some quality time to score 40 runs of 44 deliveries.

Thanks to some fireworks by Shaheen Afridi in the end Pakistan could reach a challenging total.

For India, Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the bowlers claiming three wickets in his four overs, Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel picked up two each.

Abhishek Sharma hit a boundary and a six off Shaheen Afridi to give India a dream start as they reached 12 in the first over. With not a big target to chase, India can gain an upperhand if they manage to get some quick runs on board in the early overs.

Shubman Gill clobbered two boundaries off Saim Ayub but the spinner got his revenge to remove him in the very next ball. Gill fails to read the turn and is stumped.

Abhishek Sharma continues to impress with his bat. He punishes Shaheen Afridi again with a boundary and a huge six as India reach an impressive 33 for one in three overs. The opener is batting at 23 off just nine deliveries. India now need 95 off 102 balls.

Abhishek Sharma's power-packed innings comes to an end as he offers a simple catch to Faheem Ashraf off Saim Ayub. His 31 runs came off only 13 balls as India reached 41-2 in 3.4 overs.

India are well positioned as they reach 48 for 2 in 5 overs. They now need just 80 from 90 balls with skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma in the middle. The Pakistan spinners are operating at both ends but doesn't seem to be troubling the batters much.

India looked in comfortable position as they moved to 64 for 2 in 7 overs.

Tilak Varma reached 17 off just 15 balls while Suryakumar Yadav was batting on 4. The duo shared a partnership of 23-run partnership for the third wicket.

India are sailing smoothly towards the target of 128 as they reach 88 for two in 10 overs.

They just need another 40 off 60 balls. Tilak Varma was the aggressive of the two scoring at a faster pace. He reached 28 off 24 deliveries while Suryakumar Yadav was batting on 14.

India lost Tilak Varma after he was bowled by Saim Ayub. Varma scored 31 off as many balls. India now need 31 runs from 46 balls. Suryakumar Yadav is batting on 23.

India maintained their winning momentum with an easy seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup group A match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Fans were left disappointed in the end as the match turned out to be an lop-sided affair with India dominating throughout the match.

Needing only 128 to win, India reached the target with 25 balls to spare.

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav topscored with 47 off just 37 balls while Tilak Varma hit 31 from as many balls.

Abhishek Sharma provided the initial fireworks scoring 31 off just 13 balls that included four boundaries and two sixes.

India now top the group A with four points and have nearly sealed their place for the Super Fours.