Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

India rout Pakistan by eight wickets in Asia Cup

India crushed Pakistan by eight wickets in their long-awaited Asia Cup match which failed to live up to its hype in Dubai on Wednesday.

Pace spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3-15) and part time off-spinner Kedar Jadhav (3-23) sent Pakistan, who won the toss and batted, collapsing to just 162 all out in 43.1 overs at Dubai Stadium.


Skipper Rohit Sharma then struck three sixes and six boundaries in his 39-ball 52 while fellow opener Shikhar Dhawan hit a six and six fours in his 54-ball 46 as Indiaromped home in 29 overs.

Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik both finished on 31 not out as India exacted some revenge for their humbling 180-run defeat against their arch-rivals in the final of the Champions Trophy in London last year -- the most recent match between the teams until Wednesday.

Both Pakistan and India had already qualified for the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup and will meet again in Dubai on Sunday.

Bangladesh and Afghanistan meet in Abu Dhabi in the last Group B match on Thursday, having already qualified for the second round after Sri Lanka crashed out.

The top two teams from the Super Fours will play the final in Dubai on September 28.

"Our spinners kept it tight, got the odd breakthrough, but the wickets in the first couple of overs were very important," said Sharma, standing in for regular skipper Virat Kohli rested for this event.

"It was important to get early wickets because Pakistan have got some quality in the batting. So we didn't want to make things easy for them. We kept things on the stumps and we spoke about not giving Pakistan room."

Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed blamed poor shot selection for his team's demise.

-- 'Batted poorly' --

"We didn't have a good start," said Sarfraz, whose openers departed for just three runs. "Lost two wickets in the first five overs. Then regular wickets meant we couldn't come back into the game. You can say we batted poorly."

Once Pakistan's unpredictable batting crumbled, Wednesday's match turned into a damp squib for a near-capacity crowd comprising of Indian and Pakistani expats living in the United Arab Emirates.

Kumar ran through the top order by dismissing openers Imam-ul-Haq (two) and Fakhar Zaman (nought) inside five overs, before Babar Azam (47) and Shoaib Malik (43) rebuilt the innings during their 82-run stand for the third wicket.

But after Azam was dismissed in the 22nd over, bowled by left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav, Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for 77 runs.

Azam hit six boundaries in his 62-ball knock while Malik, dropped on 26 by MS Dhoni off Hardik Pandya, cracked one six and one four in a vigilant innings which lasted 67 balls.

Sarfraz (six) became Jadhav's first wicket, holing out to long-on where substitute fielder Maneesh Pandey completed a brilliant catch, throwing the ball back into the field to avoid running over the rope and completing the catch.

But it was Malik's run out which derailed Pakistan, sent back by Asif Ali after setting off for a quick single.

Paceman Jasprit Bumrah took 2-23 but India lost all-rounder Hardik Pandya to injury.

Bowling his fifth over, Pandya fell in his follow through and was stretchered off with a lower back injury, the extent of which was being assessed by the India team's medical staff.

More For You

martha-jane-cannary

Amber Heard embraces a new identity as she steps away from the Hollywood spotlight

Getty Images

Did Amber Heard change her name to escape Hollywood for good?

Amber Heard has left her Hollywood life behind, embracing a fresh start in Spain under a new identity—Martha Jane Cannary. This transformation comes after years of intense public scrutiny, particularly following her highly publicised legal battles with ex-husband Johnny Depp. Now, she seems determined to carve out a new, quieter existence, far from the relentless media circus that once defined her life.

But why the name Martha Jane Cannary? The choice is no coincidence. It was the real name of Calamity Jane, the legendary frontierswoman known for her defiant spirit, independence, and refusal to conform to societal norms. Some speculate that Heard sees herself as a modern-day version of this rebellious figure, someone who has faced public trials and emerged on her own terms. Others believe the name change is a strategic move, allowing her to detach from her past and reinvent herself in a more private setting. Either way, it seems like a conscious effort to shed her former identity and embrace a new chapter.

Keep ReadingShow less
From heirlooms to high fashion : India's top 5 jewellery icons shaping global luxury

Celebrating the Masters Who Are Shaping India’s Jewellery Legacy on the Global Stage

India’s top 5 jewellery icons redefining high fashion and global luxury in 2025

There was a time when Indian jewellery was synonymous with heritage—something passed down through generations, worn at weddings, and locked away in velvet-lined boxes. Today, it’s a global phenomenon, dazzling on the world’s biggest fashion runways, red carpets, and luxury storefronts. From Manhattan’s high-fashion districts to Middle Eastern opulence, Indian jewellery designers are no longer confined to the subcontinent’s glittering bazaars. They are redefining luxury, one exquisite creation at a time. Their journey is not just about adornment; it’s a celebration of India’s rich heritage but reimagined for the world.

Indian jewellery, redefining global luxuryGetty Images

Keep ReadingShow less
Boishakhi Mela 2025

A burst of colour, culture, and celebration lighting up Brick Lane for Pohela Boishakh

iStock

Boishakhi Mela 2025: London’s biggest Bengali extravaganza you can't miss!

If you happen to be in London’s Brick Lane this April 14, get ready because you’re about to step into a world where colours dance, music electrifies, and the aroma of sizzling street food wraps around you like a warm cosy embrace. The Boishakhi Mela, Europe’s largest Bengali festival, is back, and this year, it’s pulling out all the stops.


Keep ReadingShow less
Champions Trophy

The tournament, considered the second most significant in one-day cricket after the World Cup, will run until 9 March. (Photo: Getty Images)

Champions Trophy to begin after India-Pakistan standoff

THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY starts on Wednesday, following a build-up marked by a venue split between Pakistan and the UAE and calls for England to boycott their match against Afghanistan.

The tournament, considered the second most significant in one-day cricket after the World Cup, will run until 9 March.

Keep ReadingShow less
Are men secretly the more romantic gender? The surprising truth about emotional needs!

Men’s emotional depth in romance: A closer look at the unseen side of love and emotional connection

Getty Images

Are men secretly the more romantic gender? The surprising truth about emotional needs!

When we think of romance, it's easy to picture women swooning over love letters, roses, and candlelit dinners. Pop culture has long painted women as the more emotional and romantic gender, while men are often depicted as more stoic or indifferent. But what if this narrative is turned upside down? Recent research suggests that men might actually be the more romantic sex, not in how they express it, but in how deeply they value and depend on romantic relationships.

But let me tell you, the idea that men are more romantic than women isn't all about grand gestures or dreamy poetic declarations. It's about the emotional weight men place on romantic partnerships. Studies show that men tend to seek out and stay in steady relationships, not just for companionship, but for emotional survival. Unlike women, who often have a broad support system outside of romance that includes friends, family, and colleagues, men tend to rely heavily on their partners for emotional intimacy and support.

Keep ReadingShow less