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Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif lavished praise on Abhishek Sharma after he started the proceedings with a six against Pakistan in the Super Four clash of the Asia Cup 2025 at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. The Southpaw smashed a six on the first ball of the first over bowled by Pakistan's premier speedster, Shaheen Shah Afridi. Earlier, Abhishek smashed a four on Shaheen's first ball during India's Group Stage clash against Pakistan.
Shaheen and Abhishek had some exchange of words after the Indian star swivelled and pulled the top-edge flied all the way and behind Haris. Kaif, who was a part of India's Asia Cup-winning squad, lauded Abhishek for his fearless approach in the mega event.
"Abhishek does the impossible, first ball six wow.." wrote Mohammad Kaif.
Coming back to the match, India pacer Shivam Dube picked two crucial wickets as Pakistan managed to score a competitive 171/5. Dube grabbed the wickets of Farhan (58 off 45 balls) and Saim Ayub (21 off 17 balls), who had stitched together a valuable 72-run partnership for the second wicket, to stop the run flow after Pakistan had scored 91/1 at the halfway mark of their innings.
Dube broke the partnership in the 11th over by dismissing Saim Ayub to leave Pakistan 93/2 before he scalped Farhan's wicket in the 15th over to have the opponents in trouble at 115/4.
Mohammad Nawaz (21) and Faheem Ashraf (20 not out) were the other notable contributors for Pakistan. Earlier, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl.
India vs Pakistan playing XIs
India's playing XI vs Pakistan: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson(w), Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Pakistan's playing XI vs India: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha(c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris(w), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
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