India secured a commanding six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup Super Four clash. The win was powered by a dominant batting display from the Indian openers. Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian skipper, made a bold statement post-match that caught everyone’s attention.
He declared that the India-Pakistan rivalry is not a rivalry anymore. This comment came after India’s seventh successive white-ball win over Pakistan. The streak started after the ICC T20 World Cup in 2022.
Pakistan posted a competitive total of 171/5 in their 20 overs. Sahibzada Farhan led the charge with a solid half-century. Some dropped catches from India helped Pakistan’s cause.
But the Indian response was nothing short of spectacular. Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill unleashed an aggressive assault. Their century partnership set the foundation for a comfortable chase.
India reached the target with seven balls to spare. The victory was comprehensive and highlighted India’s recent dominance. The numbers tell a very one-sided story.
In 15 T20Is against Pakistan, India has won 12 matches. They have lost only three, showcasing clear superiority. The gap between the two teams has widened significantly.
Suryakumar was asked if Pakistan was more competitive this time. He responded by questioning the very idea of a rivalry. He emphasized that a true rivalry involves closely contested matches.
He mentioned stats like 3-0 or 10-1 to illustrate his point. For him, this is no longer about rivalry but about playing good cricket. India has simply been the better team consistently.
The recent history supports his claim entirely. Since the T20 World Cup 2022, India has won every encounter. This includes wins in Asia Cup, Champions Trophy, and World Cup events.
During the match, Pakistan started well with a 72-run partnership. Farhan and Saim Ayub provided a strong platform. But India’s bowlers, led by Shivam Dube, restricted them later.
Dube took two wickets for 33 runs in his spell. Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya also chipped in with a wicket each. Pakistan’s total, while decent, proved insufficient.
The run-chase was a masterclass in aggressive batting. Abhishek Sharma blazed his way to 74 runs off just 39 balls. His innings included six fours and five massive sixes.
Shubman Gill supported him brilliantly with a quick 47. Their partnership took the game away from Pakistan early. Haris Rauf tried to fight back with two wickets.
But Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya finished the job calmly. Abhishek rightly won the Player of the Match award for his explosive knock. India’s dominance in this fixture continues unabated.