India and Pakistan are set to lock horns once again as the Asia Cup 2025 shifts into the Super 4 stage, with the arch-rivals squaring off in Dubai on Saturday.
For India, who have been flawless so far in the tournament, the spotlight could well fall on Abhishek Sharma, the young opener who has provided brisk starts but is yet to deliver a defining knock on the big stage.
Since cementing his place in India’s T20I setup , often setting the tone in the powerplay with quickfire cameos. However, a marquee clash against Pakistan presents the perfect opportunity to convert those cameos into a statement innings, one that could finally put this so-called rivalry to bed.
The 23-year-old southpaw has already shown glimpses of what he can do when he settles in. His unbeaten 141 off 55 balls against Punjab Kings in the IPL earlier this year, struck at a staggering strike-rate of 256, remains one of the standout knocks of 2025. That was followed by a dazzling 135 against England in a bilateral series, further underlining his ability to dismantle top-quality bowling attacks.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri believes the secret lies in Abhishek’s extraordinary bat swing, something that has drawn comparisons to Yuvraj Singh. “He’s got a mind of his own but where he reminds me of Yuvraj is the bat swing. He’s got an unbelievable swing, front foot or back foot. I remember one shot off Jofra Archer in Mumbai – just a little punch off the back foot that sailed for six. That flow, the high back lift and long follow-through – Lara had it, Yuvraj had it, and Abhishek has it too,” Shastri said.
Echoing that sentiment, Sunil Gavaskar pointed to the youngster’s ability to read situations and exploit gaps rather than go after every ball. “He reads the field well, he knows where the fielders are, and looks to go where they aren’t. Even if he mistimes it, he has a chance to escape. The connection between bat and pad is so close – almost like a mirror image of Shubman Gill on the other side. The flow of the bat, the pickup, the swing – his technique makes those amazing shots possible,” Gavaskar observed.
With plaudits from two of India’s sharpest cricketing minds, the onus is now on Abhishek to translate that potential into an innings of substance against Pakistan. A knock reminiscent of Virat Kohli’s iconic 2022 display in Melbourne, where he floored Haris Rauf with that unforgettable six, would not only cement Abhishek’s place in the hearts of Indian fans but also perhaps put to rest the notion of this rivalry being remotely a contest to watch.
Pakistan, on the other hand, arrive with a point to prove after a shaky group-stage campaign. While their struggles against India in recent years remain a talking point, against a Gambhir-coached side that has barely put a foot wrong, the Men in Green will need more than just intent to cause an upset.
For Abhishek, though, this is more than just another game. It is an opportunity to etch his name alongside With political tensions still surrounding the fixture, India’s decision to play speaks volumes. Now, a statement innings from Abhishek Sharma could give the fans a sense of appeasement, showing exactly where this Indian team stands on the world stage.