India rode on a blistering opening stand from Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill to ease past Pakistan by six wickets in their Asia Cup Super Four encounter on Sunday night, wrapping up the chase with seven balls to spare at the Dubai International Stadium.

Set 172, India came out swinging. Abhishek, the left-hander who has been growing in stature over the past year, produced a career-defining knock of 74 off just 39 balls, striking six fours and five sixes. Gill, equally fluent, cracked 47 off 28. 

Together they put on 105 for the first wicket in under 10 overs, effectively taking the game away from Pakistan before the halfway stage.

Pakistan had no answers during that onslaught. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s pace was blunted, his final over disappearing for 10 runs. Haris Rauf fought back admirably, picking up two wickets and giving little away in his four overs, but the damage was already done.

After Gill’s dismissal, Suryakumar Yadav fell cheaply, and Abhishek followed soon after, caught at long-off against the run of play. For a moment, Pakistan sniffed a chance when Sanju Samson departed for 13, leaving India at 148 for 4. But Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya ensured there would be no collapse.

Tilak sealed the win with a six and a four off Shaheen in the 19th over, finishing unbeaten on 30 off 19.

Earlier, Pakistan had posted 171 for 5.

Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with 58, while captain Salman Agha chipped in with 17 not out. Faheem Ashraf’s late cameo of 20 from eight balls gave the innings a lift after Farhan and Saim Ayub (21) had set up a promising platform.

But Pakistan could not accelerate as much as they hoped; Shivam Dube removed two batters, and Kuldeep Yadav struck in the middle overs to peg them back.

Dasun Shanaka’s unbeaten 64 the previous night against Bangladesh had shown how decisive late hitting can be in Dubai, but Pakistan managed only 80 in their last 10 overs. That left them at least 15 runs short, a fact acknowledged by their camp afterwards.

The contest had its edge: Haris Rauf and Abhishek exchanged words during a fiery spell, and Shaheen was animated after dismissing Gill. 

But India’s dressing room stayed calm, knowing the game had been set up by their openers.

“This was the only way to give them the medicine,” Abhishek said afterward, reflecting on his aggressive intent.

For India, it was as close to a perfect chase as it gets — a commanding win that strengthens their bid for the final, while Pakistan are left to regroup quickly ahead of tough assignments against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.