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In a high-octane affair, India chased down 172-run target in 18.5 overs, thanks to a blistering 105-run opening stand between Abhishek Sharma (74 off 39) and Shubman Gill (47 off 28). Abhishek’s first-ball six off Shaheen Shah Afridi set the tone, but tensions escalated as Pakistan’s bowlers, including Haris Rauf and Afridi, appeared to be engaged in verbal spats with the Indian openers. In addition to the verbal spats, Rauf’s gestures toward Indian fans, which included mimicking a crashing plane and signaling “6-0,” a reference to Pakistan’s claims of reportedly downing six Indian fighter jets in a four-day scuffle after Operation Sindoor in May 2025. It appeared that Rauf, stationed near the boundary, faced relentless chants of “Kohli, Kohli” from Indian fans, referencing Virat Kohli’s iconic sixes off Rauf in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Haris Rauf appeared to be at the center of the controversial flashpoint due to his gestures during the game played on Sunday, September 21, 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seized on the incident, and posted a video on X that highlighted Rauf’s actions with a caption, “Haris Rauf showed what he saw!” The caption appeared to mock Pakistan’s claims while framing Rauf’s gestures as an affront to Indian pride. The post included a clip of Rauf’s plane-crash gesture, reportedly drawing thousands of reactions, with many Indian users condemning Rauf for dragging geopolitics into sport. The BJP’s intervention escalated the issue beyond cricket, turning it into a diplomatic flashpoint.
Sahibzada Farhan also courted controversy with gun-like celebration after getting past 50-run mark
Haris Rauf was not the only player from the Pakistan camp as opening batter Sahibzada Farhan also invited controversy by celebrating his half-century with a gun-like gesture, pointing his bat toward the stands, which reports likened to an “AK-47” motion. This, too, reportedly drew ire for its perceived insensitivity, especially in light of the Pahalgam attack and geopolitical tensions after that. On the field, Rauf’s performance was underwhelming. While he claimed two wickets, including India captain Suryakumar Yadav for a duck, and was hammered for 18 runs in 11 balls by Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill.
Abhishek Sharma later explained his approach, stating, “The way they were coming at us without any reason, I didn’t like it at all. That’s why I went after them.” The verbal exchanges escalated in the fifth over when Rauf and Abhishek clashed, requiring umpire Gazi Sohel to intervene. Despite the distractions, India’s composure prevailed, with Tilak Varma (30* off 19) and Hardik Pandya (7* off 7) sealing the chase. For India, the victory keeps their Asia Cup campaign on track, with upcoming matches against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Pakistan, now facing an uphill battle to reach the final, must regroup after their fourth consecutive T20I loss to India.
