Follow UsWhile the final result of their matches was anticlimactic, the Asia Cup 2025 rivalry between India and Pakistan has been defined by significant drama. Their group stage encounter concluded with a controversial lack of a customary handshake, and the subsequent Super Four match on September 21 (Sunday) was characterised by heated verbal confrontations between players.
It all started when Sahibzada Farhan celebrated his half-century, holding his bat like a gun, and intensified when Haris Rauf exchanged words with Indian openers, Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. While Gill gave it back with the ‘choicest of words’, the left-hander responded with the bat, smashing 74 off 39 balls, smashing five sixes along the way.
In the aftermath of the clash, Abhishek revealed that his Player of the Match performance was triggered by Pakistan’s ‘constant verbal battle’.
"Today, it was pretty simple," Abhishek said while receiving the Player-of-the-Match award.
"The way they were coming at us without any reason, I didn't like it at all. And I thought that this is the only [answer] that I could give with my bat and obviously [contribute] with the win towards my team. That's all that was going through my mind. I just wanted to deliver for my team."
Chasing 172, India seemed in no danger, largely thanks to the Punjabi pair at the top of the order, as Gill and Abhishek combined to put up 105 runs for the opening partnership. The left-hander opened up on the pairing, stating that it was an obvious ploy to go out hard.
"We've been playing since our school days, so we enjoy each other's company really well," Abhishek said.
"And the way we started, I thought that we're going to do this in one of the games, and that's how we're going to start our partnerships. And luckily it was today, and I feel the way he [Gill] was giving them back, I really enjoyed it on the other side."
After a fair share of criticisms, Abhishek’s form has certainly suppressed the doubters, as the left-hander is leading the run-scoring chart in the Asia Cup 2025, with 173 runs averaging 43.25 while striking at 208.43. So, was there any sort of message from the dressing room to be at his attacking best?
"I feel it's very important for the team because if you see someone playing like this, they need really good support from the captain and the coach," Abhishek said about his high-risk batting style.
"I feel that's what I'm getting from my team, and that's the intent they want me to show in all the games.
India next take on Bangladesh on September 24 (Wednesday), and a win there will all but seal their place in the final of the multi-team tournament.
(Image Courtesy: AFP)