“Didn’t like the way they came at us:” Abhishek Sharma on Pakistan players

During the high-voltage Super Four stage match of the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai, tense on-field moments between players from archrivals Pakistan and India grabbed as much attention as the cricket itself.

Verbal spats were witnessed between Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi with India’s Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, adding to the charged atmosphere of the contest.

Indian opener Abhishek Sharma, who was named Player of the Match, later accused Pakistani players of being 'unreasonably aggressive.'

Speaking during the post-match ceremony, he said, “Today, it was pretty simple. The way they were coming at us without any reason, I didn’t like it at all. I thought the only answer I could give was with my bat and by contributing to my team’s win. That’s all that was going through my mind, I just wanted to deliver for my team.”

Read more: Khawaja Asif lauds Haris Rauf’s 6-0 gesture during Pak vs Ind Asia Cup match

The tension first flared in Haris Rauf’s over when Shubman Gill struck the opening delivery, bowled at 142 km/h. through mid-wicket for four runs. Immediately after the shot, a heated exchange broke out between Haris Rauf and Abhishek Sharma, forcing the umpire to step in.

In the same over, Abhishek continued to build pressure on Rauf, adding seven runs with another boundary. Throughout the exchange, both players maintained intense eye contact, further heightening the drama on the field.

The fiery face-off drew loud reactions from the stands, as fans of both sides chanted passionately in support of their players, turning the stadium atmosphere electric.