Abhishek Sharma Responds to Verbal Spat with Pakistan Pacers After India’s Asia Cup 2025 Win
India’s opener explains heated exchange while reflecting on partnership with Shubman Gill
Abhishek Sharma opened up about his verbal exchange with Pakistan bowlers during the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash on Sunday, September 21, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India secured a six-wicket victory chasing 172, with Sharma scoring 74 off 39 balls, including six fours and five sixes.
The tension flared in the fifth over after Shubman Gill hit Haris Rauf for a boundary. Sharma and Rauf engaged in a heated verbal confrontation, which escalated until umpire Gazi Sohel intervened. Gill also joined the exchange. Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Sharma said, “Today it was very simple. The way they were coming at us without any reason, I did not like it at all. That’s why I went after them.”
Sharma also highlighted his long-standing partnership with Shubman Gill, which began in the India U19 team that won the U19 World Cup in New Zealand in 2018 under Prithvi Shaw and coach Rahul Dravid. The duo’s 105-run opening partnership off 9.5 overs laid a strong foundation for India’s win. “We have been playing since school days, we enjoy each other’s company. We thought we would do it, and today was the day,” Sharma said.
With this win, India tops the Super Four table with two points and a net run rate of +0.689. Their next match is against Litton Das-led Bangladesh on Wednesday, September 24, in Dubai.
