The India–Pakistan rivalry once again transcended the boundaries of cricket during the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash in Dubai on September 21. While India clinched a commanding six-wicket win, much of the spotlight fell on Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf, who found himself battling not just the Indian batters but also a relentless Dubai crowd.
Each time Rauf patrolled the boundary, he was greeted with deafening chants of “Kohli, Kohli,” a stinging reminder of Virat Kohli’s heroics in the 2022 T20 World Cup at Melbourne. That night, Kohli famously struck two unforgettable sixes off Rauf in the penultimate over, cementing his place in the folklore of this fierce rivalry.
WATCH – Abhishek Sharma and Haris Rauf Engage In Heated Banter
At first, Rauf reacted playfully, cupping his ears to encourage the chants. But as the volume grew, the banter turned heated. In one controversial moment, he gestured with a fighter-jet motion, a clip that instantly went viral and stirred debate online. Many interpreted it as a provocative reference to past political tensions, adding more fire to an already emotionally charged clash.
A clearer angle of Haris Rauf silencing the Indian crowd by reminding them about their lost Rafales 🔥pic.twitter.com/W0pFbnEPUT
— Hassan Abbasian (@HassanAbbasian) September 21, 2025
On the pitch, Rauf showed his class with a fiery spell, taking 2/26 in his four overs and briefly keeping Pakistan in the game. His intensity spilled over during verbal exchanges with Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, forcing umpires to intervene. Yet, despite his efforts, Pakistan fell short once again.
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A dazzling 105-run opening stand spearheaded India’s chase. Abhishek Sharma lit up the stadium with a breathtaking 74 off 39 balls, hammering six fours and five sixes, while Gill supported with a fluent 47 from 28 deliveries. Their partnership dismantled Pakistan’s attack, making the 172-run target appear modest. Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 30 finished the job, sealing victory in 18.5 overs and reinforcing India’s dominance in cricket’s most intense rivalry.
