Veteran Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman once again faltered on the big stage as his side clashed with arch-rivals India in the sixth group-stage match of the Asia Cup 2025. Walking in at No. 3, Fakhar looked to settle but managed only 17 runs off 15 balls before falling to Axar Patel, who outsmarted him with clever flight.
Interestingly, Fakhar’s record against left-arm off-spinners had been impressive heading into this contest. The southpaw had scored 238 runs at a stellar average of 47.6 and a blazing strike rate of 167.60 against such bowlers in T20Is. Against Axar himself, he had previously struck eight runs off just four balls at a strike rate of 200. On paper, the battle looked tilted in his favour.
WATCH – Hardik Pandya Dismisses Saim Ayub for Golden Duck in India vs Pakistan Clash
But in Dubai, the tables turned. India’s stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav took a bold decision to bring Axar into the attack against Fakhar, and the move paid off instantly. Deceived by flight, Fakhar miscued his shot, handing an easy catch to Tilak Varma at mid-on. What looked like a risky call became a masterstroke, highlighting Suryakumar’s tactical sharpness in high-pressure games.
Axar Patel joins the party 🥳
Fakhar Zaman departs for just 17.
Watch #INDvPAK LIVE NOW on the Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.#SonySportsNetwork #DPWorldAsiaCup2025 pic.twitter.com/xwkBnHbnqr
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 14, 2025
Fakhar’s struggles add to his lean run in the tournament, where he had scored just 23 off 16 against Oman earlier. His inability to anchor Pakistan’s innings has hurt the team at crucial stages.
ALSO READ: ‘We’ll be focused on 120 balls with the bat, and 120 balls when we bowl,’ says Ryan ten Doeschate
Axar, meanwhile, made further inroads, also dismissing Agha Salman, leaving Pakistan reeling at 64 for five. With Sahibzada Farhan and Mohammad Nawaz at the crease, the Men in Green were fighting to recover from yet another batting collapse against their fiercest rivals.
For Pakistan, Fakhar’s inconsistency remains a major concern, while for India, Axar’s timely strikes reaffirmed their grip on the marquee contest.
