India delivered a clinical and commanding performance, outclassing Pakistan in every department to chase down 128 with ease, winning by 7 wickets with 25 balls to spare in the sixth match of the 2025 Asia Cup. Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has hailed India’s emphatic victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 clash in Dubai, calling it a moment of “national celebration.” India delivered a dominant all-round performance on Sunday, September 14, to brush aside their arch-rivals and continue their fine run in the tournament.
The match had carried extra weight even before a ball was bowled. With political tensions high following the Pahalgam attacks and India’s subsequent retaliation through Operation Sindoor, there had been widespread debate on whether the contest should even take place. But once the action began, India ensured that cricket, not politics, took centre stage.
India’s young side displayed composure and flair throughout the contest. Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya starred with match-winning contributions, while the spin attack left Pakistan reeling. Harbhajan pointed out that Pakistan’s batters looked lost against India’s spinners, who stuck to their plans and bowled with discipline
“Absolutely, 100%. The Indian team showed how T20 cricket should be played,” Harbhajan said. “Even though we had a young side, we had multiple match-winners. On any given day, these youngsters can win a game on their own. On the other hand, when Pakistan was batting, they looked clueless against our spinners. Team India held their nerves, stuck to the plan, and bowled brilliantly to bowl them out cheaply.”
“Every time India beats Pakistan, it’s a moment of national celebration — no doubt about that,” Harbhajan Singh said. “Beating Pakistan is always special. It’s an emotional moment, and I truly hope everyone celebrates this win. For those who chose not to watch the match, I can only say this: as players, the one thing we can do is represent the country with pride and do everything we can to win.”
India’s convincing win has not only boosted their confidence in the Asia Cup but also reaffirmed their dominance over Pakistan on the big stage. For Harbhajan, and indeed for the nation, the result was another reminder of why this rivalry continues to mean so much.
Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar was all praise for India’s new attacking approach in T20I cricket. The former Indian skipper hailed India’s approach as they went on to pummel Pakistan in the group-stage fixture of the Asia Cup on Sunday, September 14.
Gavaskar appreciated India for not taking their foot off the pedal when they could have chased down the total, taking their own sweet time. Instead, the Indian batting unit went hard right from the first ball as they completed the chase with seven wickets and 25 balls to spare.
