Asia Cup 2025: Mumbai Could Defeat Pakistan, Says 2007 T20 World Cup Winner

The much-anticipated India versus Pakistan match in the 2025 Asia Cup on Sunday, September 14, turned out to be a one-sided affair, failing to live up to the pre-match hype that had fans across the subcontinent eagerly awaiting the contest. The clash, held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, saw India dominate Pakistan completely, taking a significant step closer to securing a spot in the Super-Four stage of the tournament. The following day, the United Arab Emirates confirmed India’s position in the next round after beating Oman, leaving little doubt about the Men in Blue’s strong form in this eight-team event.

Pakistan, having won the toss and opted to bat first, struggled from the very beginning and managed only 127 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Their batting lineup repeatedly faltered against the disciplined Indian bowling attack. Kuldeep Yadav emerged as the standout performer with the ball, claiming three crucial wickets and dismantling the middle order. Despite a late cameo by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who scored 33 off 16 balls, Pakistan could not put up a challenging total. The Indian chase, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, was smooth and clinical. Suryakumar played a measured yet aggressive innings, remaining unbeaten on 47 off just 37 balls, while supporting batsmen chipped in at the right moments to guide India to a comfortable seven-wicket victory in just 15.5 overs.

Following the lopsided contest, former India cricketer and 2007 T20 World Cup winner Irfan Pathan expressed a bold opinion on the current strength of the Pakistan team. Speaking on the Sony Sports Network, Pathan claimed that India’s domestic teams, such as Mumbai and Punjab, could easily defeat Pakistan in their present form. He also suggested that many Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises would hold an advantage over Salman Ali Agha’s squad. Pathan remarked, “If you ask which Indian domestic teams could beat Pakistan, Mumbai definitely can, and Punjab too. As for IPL teams, many of them could defeat Pakistan.” His remarks underscored the dominance India displayed in the game and highlighted the gap in performance levels between the two teams during this encounter.

Adding further insight, former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar commented on the match, stating that it resembled more of a practice session than a competitive clash. Despite Pakistan fielding a bowling attack dominated by spinners, the strategy failed to impact the game in any significant way. Nayar, reflecting on the match in conversation with Pathan, explained that India had already planned their approach well in advance. “We were planning how to approach the game. Pakistan brought only spinners and no fast bowlers. Their bowling looked different, but it didn’t really make a difference. From the toss to the end, Pakistan didn’t really compete. It felt like India was playing against themselves, and the match was more like practice for the future,” he said.

The combination of strategic Indian batting, disciplined bowling, and tactical field placements left Pakistan unable to build any momentum during the game. The experience highlighted India’s depth in both domestic and international talent and reinforced the notion that the Men in Blue are currently in peak form. For Pakistan, the match served as a sobering reminder of the challenges they face in international tournaments and the areas that need significant improvement. Meanwhile, Indian cricket enthusiasts celebrated another dominant performance, confident that the team is shaping up well for both the remainder of the Asia Cup and future international competitions.

Overall, the IND vs PAK clash in the 2025 Asia Cup will be remembered less for excitement on the field and more for India’s sheer dominance and control, both with the bat and ball. It was a game where India demonstrated that even their domestic players could outperform a full international squad, leaving experts and fans alike discussing the remarkable disparity and the implications for Pakistan cricket moving forward. The match also highlighted India’s depth, preparation, and tactical superiority, emphasizing that the Men in Blue are in strong contention for the Super-Four stage and beyond.