IND vs PAK LIVE: Dube and Kuldeep restrict Pakistan to 171/5 in the first inning

In the Asia Cup 2025 match at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan posted 171/5 after a strong start, led by Sahibzada Farhan's 58 off 45 balls.

Varun Chakravarthy gave away only 25 runs in his four overs. Image | BCCI on X

Despite a flying start from the Pakistani Cricket team, great middle overs spells from Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy helped Pakistan restrict to 171/5 in the first inning at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. Sahibzada Farhan top-scored for Pakistan with 58 from 45 balls.

What happened?

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and decided to field first. Pakistan started really well as they swapped Fakhar Zaman with Saim Ayub as the opening partner for Sahibzada Farhan. Indian fielders helped them with dropped catches as Abhishek Sharma was the culprit for dropping Farhan on duck in the first over by Hardik Pandya.

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Jasprit Bumrah did not start as well as Pakistani batters changed their approach and attacked the Indian pacer from the first over. However, Hardik Pandya brought India back to the game by dismissing Fakhar Zaman in his second over.

However, Pakistan finished the powerplay with 55/1 as Farhan took 13 from Bumrah’s second and third over. Kuldeep Yadav dropped another easy catch to give Saim Ayub a life, while Abhishek dropped a tough chance on the line to hand Farhan another chance.

Farhan also took his chance and completed his fifty in 34 balls while Pakistan completed 100 in the 12th over, looking for a score above 175 in the first inning.

But the middle overs from Varun Chakravarthy, Shivam Dube, and Kuldeep Yadav restricted the Pakistani batters to a modest total. Dube dismissed Ayub and Farhan to help India come back, while Varun bowled an economical spell of 25/0 to assist him.

Although Pakistan were struggling to reach 160, a late flourish from Faheem Ashraf (20 off 8) helped them reach 171/5 in the first inning. Dube with 33/2 and Kuldeep with 31/1 were the pick of the bowlers for India.

Playing XIs

Pakistan (Playing XI): Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha(c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris(w), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

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