You talk, we win. Well, at least Abhishek Sharma was half right.
The extraordinary 25-year-old opener was the main character in the latest drama, as India crushed Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium for the second time in a week.
So dominant was their six-wicket win in the Asia Cup on Sunday night that it is becoming difficult to argue with Suryakumar Yadav’s gloating subsequent assessment. Because India do do their share of talking, too.
“This is not a rivalry anymore,” the smiling India captain said to sign off his valedictory press conference, citing how one-way the results have been lately.
Maybe not. But it is difficult to couch the Indo-Pak cricket relationship in terms that are anything other than synonyms for rivalry. Feud, enmity, conflict, tussle. It is all of those, and ever increasingly toxic, too.
The first match between the two sides a week ago had been played in good terms in the stands, and a seemingly passable enough spirit on the field, too. At least until India’s players shunned the post-match handshakes.
Then India basically sat back and let Pakistan unravel after that. While Pakistan spent the week looking for scapegoats – PCB officials, ICC match referees, obviously the whole of India – the Indian players chilled. Switch your phone off and go to sleep, was the gist of Suryakumar’s advice to his teammates.
The Indians did not have a game for the next five days themselves, while Pakistan looked entirely distracted as they struggled past the UAE to set up a rematch against the Indians.
They might as well not have bothered: when it came around, India were just as crushingly dominant as they had been seven days previously.
Not that you would have known it from some of the Pakistan players’ demeanour. Sahibzada Farhan mimicked shooting a rifle when he reached 50, even though that was a minor landmark and his team were a long way from looking like winners at the time.
Shaheen Afridi had cross words with India’s opening batters, Abhishek and Shubman Gill, while his fast-bowling partner Haris Rauf was even more combustible.
When fielding in the deep he was goaded by India supporters, so made mocking, inflammatory gestures that appeared to reference the military conflict between the nations earlier this year.
Rauf was so fired up he had to be separated from India’s batters by the umpires at the end of one over. Abhishek and Gill fired back at him, too, and, of course, whoever laughs last laughs loudest.
“The way they were coming to us without any reason, I didn’t like at all,” said Abhishek, whose 39-ball 74 won him the player of the match award.
“I thought this was the only [answer] I could give with my bat and obviously the win towards my team. That is all that was going through my mind.
“I just wanted to deliver for my team.”
Shaheen and Rauf are good mates – their colleagues at Lahore Qalandars reckon they are as good as brothers – but so are Abhishek and Gill. Their united front against the Pakistan fast bowlers spoke of a tight bond.
“I think it’s really important to be very, very good friends off the field,” Suryakumar said of the Abhishek-Gill bromance.
“If you are batting together, opening together, that really helps to get your bond a little stronger.
“Sometimes you don’t have to say anything on the field. You look in the eye and take that cheeky single or compliment each other if someone is going really strong, or if someone is having a hard day.
“I think that friendship comes into picture when they both bat together. And with Shubman, everyone knows what kind of player he is and what he brings to the table, what he brings to the team.
“The only thing I want to say about him is he knows how to score runs and the way he scored it today is a sign of a very good batter.”
What was striking about Gill’s contribution of 47 to the opening stand of 105 for India was its deference to Abhishek.
Gill might be India’s Test captain, and have spent the summer breaking records in the thrilling series in England. But he did not mind giving the limelight to his mate.
Abhishek’s style might be the more spectacular – his strike-rate doesn’t often dip far below 200 – and yet his captain says he is all substance.
“I think he is very, very selfless,” Suryakumar said of Abhishek. “When it comes to his batting style, as he passes the powerplay, he can still bat the same way how he bats in the powerplay.
“But the way he analyses the situation post powerplay, [and assesses] what is required of him, what bowlers are going to bowl, I think that's a plus point for him.
“He’s learning every game and it’s very important for someone like him to understand what his role is, how he can bat a little deeper.
“Most important, what I’ve seen from him is never misses any practice session. He’s always there to do something at least.
“Even if he doesn’t want to bat, he’s there on the ground. He always wants to be active. And if you keep working hard, God always has plans for you.”
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Russia v Scotland, Thursday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
More on Quran memorisation:
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
