IND vs PAK Ball by Ball Commentary

FOUR! A low full toss from Afridi, on the pads, Tilak Varma accepts it gleefully and just whips it behind square on the leg side, and finds the fence. INDIA WIN BY 6 WICKETS AND 7 BALLS TO SPARE!

SIX! CLEAN AS A WHISTLE! Ordinary bowling, this, especially with mid off up in the ring! Into the slot, a juicy half volley, around off. Tilak Varma clears the front leg and smokes it downtown for a 92-meter biggie! Just 2 needed now for India!

Slips in a low full toss, outside off. Hardik Pandya throws his bat at it, and slices it to the deep backward point region. The man from deep third cuts it off to his left. One taken. 8 needed off 9!

Two dots to start the penultimate! Pace on at 141.8 kph, full and outside off. Hardik Pandya tries to work that through cover, but the ball zips past his outside edge.

A slower yorker, on middle. Hardik Pandya does well to jam his bat down and squeezes it out to the cover regoin.

Slowish delivery, at 114.6 kph, full and outside off. Hardik is early in his shot, looking to heave across, but mistimes off the inner half and the ball rolls down to long on for a single. INDIA NEED 9 OFF 12 BALLS!

Proactive running! Fuller and on off, angling in. Tilak Varma shimmies down the track and drills it wide of mid off for a quick single.

Hard length, at a gentle pace, outside off. Hardik Pandya dabs it to the point region for a quick run.

Back of a length, on off, swatted down the ground to long off for a single.

SIX! THAT IS HUGE! And that should be the game for India! Slams it short and on top of off. Tilak Varma reads the length very early and with no intentions to keep it down, pulls it powerfully behind deep square leg for a huge six. 13 needed off 16 now.

Around the stumps, off cutter, on a good length at 115.7 kph. This one lands and just doesn't rise enough and beats Varma on the pull shot.

At 141.2 kph, on a short of a length, around off. Hardik Pandya gets right behind the line and taps it out to the cover region. Haris Rauf has bowled his heart out, and ends his spell with impressive figures of 4-0-26-2.

WIDE! Bangs it into the pitch, does Rauf, short and going down leg. Hardik Pandya shapes to pull, but misses. Wide given.

FOUR! Glorious! This one tails back into the batter, full and on the leg stump. Hardik Pandya gets on the front foot, and nonchalantly flicks that to the right of mid on for a boundary! 150 UP FOR INDIA!

OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Haris Rauf delivers a pearler to remove Samson who was evidently struggling at the crease! Rauf runs full tilt and slams the deck hard, in the line of the stumps. The ball lands and skids through the surface as well, hurrying Sanju Samson into the shot. He tries the cross-batted heave across the line and is beaten for pace. Misses to connect and the ball smashes into the stumps behind. Sanju Samson departs for 13 (17) and India are 148/4, needing 24 runs off 20 balls.

On a back of a length, at 121.7 kph, outside off. Varma drags off the back foot to the long on region for a single.

Spotting Tilak shaping up for the lap shot, Haris slows the pace and goes fuller, on the leg stump, going down further. Tilak Varma has already committed to the shot and misses as he is beaten by the lack of pace.

Fuller and angling in, Tilak Varma skips down the track and clips it wide of deep mid-wicket for a couple of quick runs.

This one grips and holds on the surface a bit, Samson rocks back and tries to hit it too hard, but mistimes it back to the bowler. Samson has appeared to be struggling to adjust with the pace of the pitch.

STRAIGHT UP... LANDS SAFE! Full and pushed through, outside off. Sanju Samson gets half forward and tries to smash it over long off. Ends up slicing it over cover. Three fielders converge, two from the deep, one from the inner ring, but none of them call for it, and as a result, the ball drops and plugs between them. Two taken.

Swing and a miss! Full and drifting down the leg stump line. Sanju Samson tries to whip that across, but wears on the front pad.

Good running! Drops it on a length, goes straight on middle. Sanju Samson hangs back and punches it along the ground, in that open space, wide of long off for a couple of runs.

Drags it down, outside off, turning away. Sanju Samson hangs back and looks to smash it downtown, but toe ends it flat toward the bowler. The ball lands just in front of the bowler as Abrar dives to his left and takes a stinging blow to one of his fingers.

Pitched on a length, and turning down the leg stump. Tilak Varma hangs back and steers it to the widish short fine leg region for a single.

Low full toss, outside off. Sanju Samson plays at it, but fails to lay his bat on ball. 8 off this over and Shaheen's figures are 3-0-29-0.

Angled on the leg stump, on a good length, Tilak pulls that away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Playing with the bowler's ego here! No bowler likes to get hit straight down the ground. Tilak does exactly that. With mid off up in the ring, Shaheen bowls full and around off. Tilak Varma plays through the line and lofts it effortlessly over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Back of a length, angling into the batter. Sanju Samson shapes to heave that across the line, but mistimes off the inner half of the bat to deep square leg for one more.

Slower ball, full and on middle. Samson forces the drive to the cover fielder.

WIDE! Reload! Slants it across the batter, from around the stumps, but sprays it down leg. Wide called.

Back of a length, kicks up a bit on off. Tilak Varma is taken aback by it but adjusts it to steer away towards square leg for a single.

Takes pace off again and bowls it short outside off, Samson waits back before tapping it down towards backward point.

A length ball on off, Samson looks to punch it on the up but is a bit early and gets it off the toe end of the bat and back to the bowler.

Slower delivery again, full and straight, clipped away to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Glorious from Samson! A touch fuller and around off, Sanju Samson leans half forward and drives it on the up, right off the middle of the bat and the ball shoots through the cover region and into the fence.

Takes pace off and bowls it fuller, Sanju Samson flicks it towards mid-wicket.

Back of a length, cutting back in from outside off. Sanju Samson hops back and opens the face of the blade to punch it down wide of deep third for a couple of runs.

A bit shorter and outside off, Tilak Varma mistimes the cut to short cover.

Googly now, a bit short and on middle, Sanju hangs back and punches it down to long on for one more.

On a dragged length and on middle and leg, pushed off the back foot and down to long on for a single.

A bit full and around off, punched on the up and through mid off for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! For once, Abhishek Sharma doesn't go through with the aggressive shot and ends up paying the price, marking the end of a fine knock. Abrar Ahmed looks to go wide and away from the hitting arc, but drags this one down. Sharma moves to the off side but is a bit lazy to pull and ends up chipping it down to long on. Haris Rauf comes in and takes a good low catch with both hands as Sharma departs for a quickfire 74 (39). From 105/0, India have slipped down to 123/3.

SIX! BANG! Too full and in the slot around middle and leg. Abhishek Sharma gets the front leg out of the way, gets under the ball and smokes it well over wide long on for a 91-meter biggie.

Bowled into the deck and around off, pulled away through mid-wicket for a single. Sharma calls for two initially, but he won't get it.

Switches to around the wicket and angles it in from around off. A bit shorter, and Sharma blocks it off.

FOUR! Back of a length and wide outside off, Abhishek Sharma stays put and cuts it past point for a boundary.

Back of a length and on leg stump, nudged away behind square leg for an easy single by Varma.

Full of a good length and on leg, Sharma tucks it wide of mid on for a quick single.

FOUR! Abhishek Sharma breaks the shackles with a lusty blow! Shorter and outside off, Sharma just lays into it and flat-bats it over mid off for a boundary.

Fractionally full and darted in towards the middle stump. Tilak presses back and blocks it down the pitch. Just a run and a wicket off that over. India now need 66 runs off 54 balls.

Shortens the length and angles it in from around off, Varma backs away and dabs it down to backward point. That was bowled at 146 km/h and Rauf does have his tail up at the moment.

Goes full and straight to the new batter, at 144.2 km/h. Tilak Varma does well to get his bat down in time and pushes it towards mid on.

OUT! CAUGHT! Abrar Ahmed holds his nerves in the deep and it's 3 out of 3 for Haris Rauf against Suryakumar Yadav. Rauf serves it on a hard length and on off, SKY goes deep in his crease and looks to pick the ball over that favored backward square leg region. The ball is quick and catches the top edge before flying down to deep third, where Abrar takes a reverse cup catch and the Indian skipper departs for a three-ball duck as Rauf gets him for the third time in their 3 meetings. India are now 106/2!

Good length, in and around the top of off and at a brisk pace of 144 kph as well. Suryakumar Yadav pushes it out into the off side.

Hard length wide outside off, Sharma looks to drag it through mid-wicket but gets an inside edge past the keeper and towards short fine. They pick up a single as well.

Swing and a miss! At 133.7 kph, Ashraf bowls full and just outside off. Suryakumar Yadav shuffles across and tries to play the 'supla' shot, the flick or a whip behind deep fine leg, but connects with a handful of air only. At halfway, India are 105/1.

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! BOWLED! A break play equals to break in concentration. Faheem Ashraf is pumped up to bits and understandably so, as Pakistan finally get the first breakthrough. Ashraf bowls it on a good length, and gets it to jag back in a touch as well. Shubman Gill plays for the initial line with his feet going nowhere, and that creates enough gap for the ball to sneak between bat and pad to smash into the stumps behind. Shubman Gill departs for a well-constructed 47 (28) and India are 105/1, needing 67 runs off 61 balls.

Short of a good length, around off. Shubman Gill advances down the track and plays that like a tennis forehand as the ball just kicks up a bit. Manages to hit it over cover for a couple of runs. But right after completing the shot, Gill is seen hobbling to complete the double.

Slower delivery, pushed outside off, on a length. Abhishek Sharma skips down the track and liberates his arms. Hits it through the cover region for a single.

Slowish delivery, on the stumps, Sharma looks to smash it to the off side by backing away, but shanks it back to the bowler.

Hurls it outside off, on a good length, an off cutter at 113.9 kph, Gill weighs on the back foot and slashes it to deep point for an easy single.

A dot ball, a rarity! Speared in full and just outside off. Abhishek Sharma works it straight to the fielder at point. A relatively quiet over as just 5 runs come off it. Haris Rauf's figures read 2-0-17-0 so far.

On a back of a length, just outside off, Shubman Gill gets on the back foot and cuts it square to deep point for one more.

100 UP FOR INDIA! This has come in double-quick time for them. Good length, angling in, Abhishek Sharma forces the drive in thereabouts of mid off for a single. This is also the FIRST 100-plus opening partnership in the Asia Cup 2025. In fact, the highest partnership for any wicket in this edition.

In the air... lands safe! Full from Rauf, just around off. Abhishek Sharma shapes to loft it over cover, but mistimes it due to the pace on it. Slices it over cover and the ball lands in the deep safely. Two taken.

Around the stumps, on a good length, on off. Abhishek Sharma gets on the back foot and bunts it to the left of the bowler.

On a back of a length, skidding through on middle. Gill hops back and uses his wrists to flick it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Length, outside off, Gill cuts away behind square on the off side for a single.

Full and on off, Sharma drives it to deep point for a single.

FOUR! FIFTY FOR ABHISHEK SHARMA! Off just 24 balls! 3rd T20I half century for him to get along with a couple of centuries! Fuller ball, sliding into the batter. Abhishek Sharma moves leg side to create room and lofts it inside out over cover for a boundary to bring up his milestone. Brings out his signature celebration and the Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir approves this knock with a standing ovation.

Outside off and on a length. Gill gets on the back foot and punches it through cover for one more.

FOUR! That is a shot and a half from Gill! Dropped full and around middle. Shubman Gill is quick to switch his stance and reverse sweeps it over short third for a comfortable boundary!

A bit short and quicker, outside off, spinning away. Sharma is beaten on the cut shot.

Short and wide on off, slashed off the back foot to deep extra cover for a couple of runs.

DROPPED, SIX! The fielding coaches of both sides won't be happy one bit. Short from Abrar, on the stumps. Abhishek Sharma rocks back and goes for the pull shot, but the timing is not that great on this one. Sahibzada Farhan from long on runs to his left and even manages to catch the ball while running but just ends up popping it behind the ropes from his palms. What could have potentially been a wicket for Pakistan, adds half a dozen runs to the Indian total.

Short and spinning away from off. Shubman Gill hangs back and punches it to the right of cover. The fielder fumbles and the ball is parried to the deep. This allows the batters to pinch in a single.

Just outside off, at 89.9 kph, on a length. Abhishek Sharma stands tall and punches it to deep cover for a single.

SIX! Effortless! Drops it into the arc, full and on middle. Abhishek Sharma sits down and slogs it over deep mid-wicket for a huge six.

Flat and outside off, short in length, from around the stumps. Sharma rushes on the back foot and steers it to short third. Looks to pinch in a single, but Gill shouts 'No' from the other end.

FOUR! 14 runs off the over! Saim keeps bowling short, on middle and leg. Shubman Gill is quick to pick the length. Uses the depth of the crease and pulls it to the left of the diving mid-wicket fielder for a cracking boundary. India end their Powerplay, going unblemished at 69.

A carrom ball by the looks of it, at 85.6 kph. Full and on middle. Gill gently drives it back to Ayub.

Tossed up, on the stumps, full in length. Shubman Gill leans on and defends it to the leg side.

FOUR! Played to perfection! Another one dragged down by Saim, outside off. Gill has enough time to rock back and play the cut shot. Opens the bat face at the last second and pierces the narrow cover and point gap for a boundary.

WIDE! Sprayed down leg, full in length. Shubman Gill tries to sweep but misses. Wide given.

On a length, around off, Abhishek Sharma plays with the spin and punches it through wide cover for a single.

FOUR! This is brave batting! Saim drags the length back, on middle. Abhishek Sharma sees mid on inside the circle, rocks back and pulls over the fielder at mid on for a boundary.

FOUR! Oh, that's so well controlled by Shubman Gill. Short of a length over off, not short enough. Gill stands tall, rolls his wrists over the ball and pulls it down with sublime timing, in front of mid-wicket and gets the boundary. Some words being exchanged between Rauf and the Indian batters.

Dug in short and towards the batter. Sharma ventures down the track again and getsthe pull off the inside edge and in front of square leg for a single.

It looks like Rauf is taking pace off deliberately here. Back of a length and outside off, Sharma comes down the track and lifts it without much timing over the cover region for a couple of runs. The 50 also comes up for India.

Good-length delivery, angled in at the stumps from around the wicket. Sharma blocks it to covers. A couple of deliveries in and around 127-128 kph from Rauf, which is very slow by his standards.

FOUR! A bit streaky but Abhishek Sharma won't mind that at all. Hard length wide outside off, Sharma throws his bat at it and ends up slicing it over short third and the ball rickles away to the fence.

Rauf starts with a speedy delivery, just back of a length and over middle. Gill presses back and nudges it into the leg side for a single.

Fires it in full and outside off. Sharma jams this one out to extra cover.

SIX! Even better! Shorter in length and around leg, Abhishek Sharma picks it up and swings it high over deep square leg for a biggie.

FOUR! Much better shot from Abhishek! Length ball at the stumps, Sharma stays deep in the crease and swings it away, up and over wide mid on for a boundary.

Missed opportunity! Too short and wide outside off, Sharma hops across the off stump and throws his hands at it, ending up mistiming it towards mid off.

NOT OUT! Dragged length at the batter, Shubman Gill presses back and tucks it just behind square leg. The batters are a bit indecisive as they look to pick up a single and eventually, they go for it. The fielder picks up the ball and fires in a throw at the keeper's end. The bails have come off and the third umpire is called in. Replays show that Mohammad Haris tried to flick the ball onto the stumps but ended up dislodging the bails with his arm as the ball missed the stumps.

On the shorter side to begin with and around off, Abhishek Sharma rocks back and powers it towards cover but fails to find the gap. A single is taken.

FOUR! That has been HAMMERED! Back of a length from Shaheen, just outside off, angling away. Shubman Gill gets his dancing shoes on and smashes it through the cover and point for a cracking boundary!

Full and tailing back in on middle and leg. Shubman Gill flicks it to the deep mid-wicket region for two more as the man from deep square leg cuts it off to his left.

FOUR! Up and over! Slower delivery, but in the zone, outside off. Shubman Gill just liberates his arms, and lofts it over mid off for a cracking boundary.

In the air... just safe! Short and into the surface by Afridi. Abhishek Sharma tries to pull but is rushed on the shot. Mistimes the ball over mid-wicket. Mohammad Nawaz from mid-wicket backtracks but does not manage to hold onto it. Had Nawaz been a bit quick to react, he could have actually pulled this off.

Full and slow, on the off stump, dipping on the batter. Abhishek looks to swing hard, but loses his shape, getting an inside edge onto his front pad.

Good length ball on the middle stump. Gill plays it between mid-wicket and mid on for a single.

Full and on the pads, flicked away between mid on and mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Finds the gap, does Gill! Bowled short again and outside off, Shubman Gill rocks back and forces it between the two cover fielders for another boundary.

FOUR! Wrong line from Saim! Floated, full and down leg. Shubman Gill sits down and gets a bit of bat on the sweep, enough to take the ball rolling into the fine leg fence.

Slows it up a bit and floats it on the pads, Gill clips it towards mid-wicket.

Over the wicket now to the right-hander. A tad short again and around off but it was the seam-up delivery that goes away from the right-hander. Gill punches it to cover-point.

Comes around the stumps and starts with a loose short ball outside off. Abhishek Sharma backs away to slap it down the ground but mistimes it and gets it just past the bowler down to long off for a single.

A single to end the first over of the chase, 9 runs off it. Full and fired into the pads, Sharma walks past the leg stump and stylishly flicks it to deep backward square leg for just one.

Back of a length and over off, Sharma hangs back and plays it down to mid on.

On a good length and at the stumps, swinging back into the right-hander. Gill prods halfway and pushes it back past the bowler and towards mid on for a quick single.

A touch fuller and on off at 140.2 km/h. Shubman Gill rocks onto the front foot and eases it across to mid-wicket.

'No, no, no,' is the call from Shubman Gill, but they do get the single anyway. Good length outside off, tapped away towards point where the fielder fumbles and the batters scamper across for the single.

SIX! Wow, no messing about from Abhishek Sharma! Shaheen starts off with a bumper but bowls it down the leg side, Sharma is ready for it and pulls it handsomely over fine leg for a biggie. Sharma loves to hit the first ball of the innings for a boundary.