DUBAI: India vs. Pakistan in the 2022 Asia Cup Highlights: India defeated Pakistan in a dramatic Asia Cup Group A encounter at the Dubai International Stadium thanks in large part to the steely nerves of Hardik Pandya. Hardik scored three boundaries and a six in the final two overs of the 148-run chase to help India win with two balls remaining. Pandya continued to go unbeaten at 33 while Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja each played innings of 35 to give India a respectable starting point.

Ten months have passed since Shaheen Afridi's iconic pace and swing session in a T20 World Cup match at the Dubai International stadium destroyed India's batting. In the inaugural game of the Asia Cup on Sunday evening, the Indian batters scrambled to a thrilling five-wicket victory with two balls to spare as the Indian pace attack literally and figuratively rebounded to bowl out Pakistan for 147.

In the first innings of the Asia Cup match in Dubai, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik Pandya shone with the ball as India bowled out Pakistan for 147. After India called Pakistan to play at the Dubai International Stadium, Bhuvneshwar recorded four for 26 while Hardik came back with three for 25. Pakistani hitters were the focus of the Indian pacers' short ball attacks. By taking the crucial wicket of Babar Azam, Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave India the ideal start.

After Fakhar Zaman was eliminated from the powerplay by Avesh Khan, Rohit Sharma's team was in a strong position. The Pakistan tail was cleaned up by Bhuvneshwar and Hardik. Before Shahnawaz Dahani and Haris Rauf helped Pakistan reach a decent total, Rizwan scored the best with a superb 43. Before this, Dinesh Karthik was preferred over Rishabh Pant for a spot in India's starting XI.

All of it came dangerously close to being for nothing as the Indian top order of KL Rahul (0), Rohit Sharma (12 off 18), and Virat Kohli (35 off 34) once again appeared out of place against excellent pace, as it did that evening in October last year. Instead of Afridi, 19-year-old Naseem Shah (2/27) sent shockwaves through the Indian dressing room by removing Rahul in the first over and having Kohli dropped on zero off the first ball. The conservative batting, which has plagued India's T20 fortunes in crucial matches, reappeared.

Kohli and Rohit appeared tenacious before being holed out at long-off off Nawaz (3/33). In place of Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja was allowed to bat at No. 4. He struggled to a 29-ball 35. However, it was his 29-ball 52-run stand with Hardik together with Pakistan's erratic bowling and low over-rate (which forced Pakistan to use five fielders within the circle in the final three overs) that allowed India to escape with a victory.

Playing XI’s: 

India: Rohit Sharma (capt.), KL Rahul (VC), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, B Kumar, Y Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam (capt.), Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, I Ahmed, Shadab Khan (vc), Mohammad Nawaz, Shahnawaz Dahani, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah

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