Credit: BCCI/PCB/X
The Indian cricket team won the coveted Asia Cup for the ninth time in history after defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in the final of the 2025 edition, which was played in the T20I format. After playing a key role in India’s triumph at the top of the order, Abhishek Sharma received the player of the tournament award, and in the post-match interview, he took a jibe at Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi, mocking him for being called the “premium fast bowler”.
Notably, during the Asia Cup 2025 campaign, on indifferent pitches for batting in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Abhishek Sharma put up an incredible run of performances with the bat, dominating the opposition bowling attacks from the first ball of the innings to his last. The left-handed batter comfortably ended up being the top-scorer of the tournament, notching up 314 runs in seven innings at an incredible strike rate of exactly 200, while his average was 44.85.
Abhishek Sharma was the catalyst for India’s constant fast starts in the powerplay in the Asia Cup 2025, and he got good company at the other end from his childhood friend and India’s Test captain Shubman Gill.
I want to go from the first ball, no matter who's the bowler: Abhishek Sharma
During the post-match chat, Abhishek Sharma talked about his plan for the opposition bowlers in the Asia Cup 2025. He was quoted as saying, “If you see that I had a plan, if I get spinners or pacers in the powerplay, I'm going to utilize that powerplay. Because if you see any bowler, even a fast bowler, any of the premium fast bowlers as well, I want to go from the first ball, no matter who's the bowler. And obviously that's going to make me give that impact to the team. And that's what I want to do.”
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It will be quite a fascinating watch when Abhishek Sharma takes on Shaheen Afridi the next time on the cricket pitch during an India versus Pakistan clash.
