By: Express News ServiceUpdated: September 22, 2025 12:41 AM IST 4 min readUnlike past tournaments, both sets of players have avoided coming face-to-face even in practice sessions and keeping things to themselves. But on Sunday, the heat was visible on the field. (AP Photo)The Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash between India and Pakistan finally lived-up to its billing of a top-drawer clash as tempers flared in the middle at Dubai on Sunday. In complete contrast to the recent matches between the two sides, where the bonhomie between the players has made it to the reels and shorts on social media, glares and words were exchanged time and again even forcing the umpire to intervene at one stage to calm the proceedings.“Today was pretty simple, the way they were coming out to us without any reason, I did not like it at all. That’s why I went after them. I wanted to deliver for the team,” India opener Abhishek Sharma, who had a fiery exchange of words with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf said at the post match presentation ceremony. “We have been playing since school days, we enjoy each other’s company, we thought we would do it and today was the day. The way he was giving it back, I really enjoyed it.”After both teams refused to shake hands at the toss in their earlier Group fixture last week, the mood in both India and Pakistan camps had already changed. Unlike past tournaments, both sets of players have avoided coming face-to-face even in practice sessions and keeping things to themselves. But on Sunday, the heat was visible on the field.While Pakistan’s innings had gone without much drama, chasing 172 for a win, India’s openers Abhishek and Shubman Gill got their fiery face to the crease. Having greeted Afridi with a boundary in the previous outing, on Sunday, Abhishek pulled the left-arm pace for a six off the very first ball. Along with it the verbal exchanges too started as the Indian batsman appeared to say something back to the bowler. At the end of that over, both the batsman and the bowler exchanged words face-to-face as the tension began to increase.Then in Afridi’s second over, Gill got into the act. After crisply hitting one through the covers, he pointed to Afridi where the ball travelled aka Aamir Sohail to Venkatesh Prasad, Bengaluru 1996. However, unlike Prasad, Afridi didn’t have the last word. An over later, when Rauf came on, the temperature rose once again with Abhishek straightway exchanging words. As he tried to off set Rauf by coming down the pitch, the pacer too responded and after pulling him for a boundary Gill exchanged words. Seconds later, Abhishek stationed at the non-strikers end, had a go. With Rauf also not holding back, the onfield umpire stepped in to calm the tensions.The two Indian openers, childhood friends who were part of India U-19 side, have had a history of rivalry with the Pakistani players since the age-group levels. During the 2018 Under-19 World Cup final, Afridi and Gill had a famous exchange when the later scored a century. Abhishek was part of that team too. And seven years later, all three now being integral part of their teams seem to carry on where they had left.Chasing what looked like a challenging target, Abhishek and Gill’s 105-run stand set up another win for India over their arch-rivals. The muted celebration from Pakistan players after the southpaw departed after making 74 off 39 deliveries said a story or two as to who had the final say.Story continues below this adLike the group fixture, after Tilak Varma hit the winning runs, he headed back to the dressing room alongside Hardik Pandya as both teams didn’t shake hands at the end of the fixture too.Stay updated with the latest sports news across Cricket, Football, Chess, and more. Catch all the action with real-time live cricket score updates and in-depth coverage of ongoing matches.© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Asia CupIndia vs Pakistan