Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar delivered a scathing assessment of Pakistan’s performance after their Asia Cup 2025 clash against India on Sunday, September 14, in Dubai. Watching Pakistan collapse to just 127/9, with India completing the chase comfortably before the death overs, Gavaskar labelled this as one of Pakistan’s weakest teams in recent memory.
Speaking on the post-match broadcast, Gavaskar reflected on Pakistan’s inability to handle India’s spin attack. “I have been watching Pakistan’s team since 1960, running from Churchgate station to Brabourne Stadium to see Hanif Mohammad. This time, for the first time in years, I felt that this isn’t Pakistan’s team—it’s some Popatwadi team,” he said, using the Mumbai cricket slang for a side with weak or ordinary players.
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Gavaskar highlighted how Pakistan’s batters were completely out of depth against India’s spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy. The trio bowled with impeccable line and length, exploiting the technical deficiencies of the Pakistani lineup and leaving them unable to counter the spin effectively.
The result was a modest 127/9, at least 50 runs short of a par total, leaving India with a straightforward chase. Abhishek Sharma led the charge, smashing 31 off 13 balls and punishing Pakistan’s leading bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who went wicketless for 23 runs in two overs. Captain Suryakumar Yadav celebrated his 35th birthday with an unbeaten 47 off 37 balls, guiding India to victory well before the final overs.
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The match ended on a tense note, with Suryakumar finishing in style and walking straight back to the dugout without engaging in the customary post-match handshake with the Pakistan players, reflecting the serious tone of the contest. Gavaskar’s critique underscored India’s dominance and Pakistan’s struggles against quality spin, highlighting a worrying phase for the Men in Green.
