The Asia Cup 2025 has been nothing short of electrifying, and at the heart of India’s charge to the final is a young left-handed opener who’s taken the cricket world by storm—Abhishek Sharma. On September 24 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Sharma delivered another statement performance, smashing 75 off just 37 balls against Bangladesh to steer India to a 41-run victory and secure their spot in the tournament finale.
It wasn’t just another fifty for the southpaw; it was his second consecutive in the tournament, and it cemented his status as the leading run-scorer of Asia Cup 2025. With 248 runs in five innings, Sharma sits atop the batting charts, his explosive style and fearless approach redefining India’s powerplay strategy. The numbers are staggering—an average of 49.60, a strike rate of 206.66, and a consistency that has made him the backbone of India’s batting lineup.
His partnership with Shubman Gill at the top has been a revelation. Against Bangladesh, the duo stitched together 77 runs in just 6.2 overs, setting the tone for the innings. While Gill played the anchor, Sharma unleashed an array of shots, particularly in the final over of the PowerPlay, where he took Saifuddin apart with four boundaries. The opener’s ability to adapt was evident; dropped on 7 by the wicketkeeper Jaker Ali, he steadied himself before exploding into action. “I was doing my job for the team. I go with the flow without thinking much. I like to go from the first ball of the match, but the wicket in Dubai was new, so Shubman Gill and I took time before hitting shots,” Sharma told Sanjay Manjrekar, reflecting on his approach.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Men in Blue. After the initial flourish, India’s batting stumbled, losing four wickets for 46 runs as Bangladesh’s spinners applied the brakes. Shivam Dube, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma all fell cheaply, and the middle order struggled to find momentum. Hardik Pandya attempted to inject life with a few crisp boundaries, but a disciplined Bangladesh attack restricted India to 168 in their allotted 20 overs. In fact, the last five overs yielded only 36 runs, highlighting the effectiveness of Bangladesh’s death bowling.
Yet, Sharma’s brilliance overshadowed the batting collapse. Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif didn’t hold back in his praise, calling Sharma a “future superstar” and even predicting, “Abhishek Sharma will hit six sixes in six balls. The range of shots that he has, the mental power, and understanding of the game. He plays fast bowlers well, and he is equally good against spin.” Kaif also pointed out how Sharma, despite a slow start—nine runs off nine balls—accelerated in style, smashing 66 off his next 28 deliveries. “Even on his bad night, he smashed 66 off his next 28 balls. He is a future superstar,” Kaif declared on his YouTube channel.
Sharma himself remains grounded, attributing his success to relentless work in the nets and a calculated approach at the crease. “I bat according to the field and execute my shots after checking the placement of the fielders. It is not possible to just go out and start hitting the shots without checking the field placements. I work hard in the nets as I know my brand of cricket would bring failures as well. If I have to be aggressive in the middle, I have to work hard,” Sharma explained, giving fans a glimpse into the mindset that has propelled him to the top.
On the bowling front, India’s spinners were the architects of Bangladesh’s downfall. Kuldeep Yadav, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 12 scalps, delivered a match-winning spell of 3 for 18, including the crucial wickets of Rishad Hossain and Tanzim Hasan Sakib in successive balls. Varun Chakravarthy chipped in with 2 for 29, and Axar Patel and Tilak Varma rounded out a clinical spin attack that shared seven wickets among them. Suryakumar Yadav, despite his struggles with the bat, contributed a vital run-out to further stifle Bangladesh’s chase.
Bangladesh’s Saif Hassan provided some resistance, compiling a valiant 69 off 36 balls, including five towering sixes. Remarkably, he was given four reprieves—dropped on 40, 60, 65, and 69—highlighting India’s ongoing fielding woes. The Men in Blue have now dropped 12 catches in the tournament, the most by any team, with a catching efficiency of just 67.5 percent. Only Hong Kong China fares worse in this regard. “This team has been picked for a mission till the World Cup. We have to pick up our fielding and the fielding coach will have lots to say. Last match he didn’t say much, but after today he’ll have plenty to say,” Varun Chakravarthy admitted, acknowledging the need for improvement under the challenging Dubai floodlights and stifling humidity. “But at this level, you cannot make excuses. We have to take every catch.”
India’s victory, while comprehensive on paper, exposed vulnerabilities that could haunt them in the high-stakes matches ahead. The batting collapse, fielding lapses, and the pressure of knockout cricket are all factors that the team must address as they prepare for the final. Yet, the resilience of the bowling unit and the emergence of Sharma as a match-winner have given fans plenty to cheer about.
Elsewhere, the spotlight has also turned to India’s bowling spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah. Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif sparked debate by pointing out differences in Bumrah’s bowling workload under former captain Rohit Sharma versus current skipper Suryakumar Yadav. Kaif noted that Bumrah now bowls three overs up front, rather than spreading them through the innings—a tactic he fears could hurt India in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Bumrah, however, was quick to respond on X, calling the observation “Inaccurate before inaccurate again.” Despite a tough outing against Pakistan in the Super 4, where he conceded 45 runs without a wicket, Bumrah remains a crucial part of India’s plans. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed, “He is ready and available for both Tests,” as Bumrah was named in the squad for the upcoming series against the West Indies, with workload management still a priority following his back surgery.
With the Asia Cup final looming and the T20 World Cup on the horizon, India’s blend of youthful exuberance, experienced campaigners, and a few glaring imperfections makes them one of the most fascinating teams to watch. Will Abhishek Sharma continue his red-hot form and lead India to continental glory? Can the fielding unit tighten up in time for the crunch games? One thing’s for sure—the stage is set for a thrilling climax to the Asia Cup, and all eyes are on the Men in Blue as they chase another piece of silverware.
