NEW DELHI: Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are gearing up for a high-voltage showdown in the Asia Cup 2025 group stage at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. This clash is already a headline event, but an intriguing subplot has added extra spice: the face-off between India’s batting star Shubman Gill and Pakistan’s spinner Abrar Ahmed.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The last time these two sides met was at the same venue earlier this year during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. India won that contest by six wickets before going on to lift the trophy. But what made the night unforgettable for fans was Abrar Ahmed’s dismissal of Shubman Gill — a wicket that sparked one of the most talked-about moments of the tournament.
Gill, batting fluently on 46 off 52 balls, was undone by an absolute peach of a leg-break in the 18th over. The ball drifted in, ripped past his defence, and crashed into the stumps, leaving even Virat Kohli at the non-striker’s end in awe. As Gill stood in disbelief, Abrar gave him a pointed send-off, signalling him to walk back. The gesture instantly went viral, dividing fans across the cricketing spectrum — some calling it fiery passion, others branding it unsporting.Now, as the two teams lock horns again under the floodlights in Dubai, the big question is: who will have the last laugh this time? Can Gill settle scores with his bat, or will Abrar once again spin a web around him?
Adding to the drama, Gill gave Indian fans a scare during Saturday’s training session. A rising delivery struck him on the hand, forcing him to briefly leave the nets in discomfort. Vice-captain Gill was seen icing his hand with physios keeping a close watch, while teammates Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma checked on him. Thankfully, the scare was short-lived. Gill returned to bat again and ended the session in full flow, even stopping to greet Abhishek’s father on his way out.With political tension in the backdrop and cricketing history at stake, the Gill vs Abrar rivalry has become the talking point ahead of the Asia Cup blockbuster. Sunday’s clash promises not just another India-Pakistan thriller, but also the next chapter in a duel that fans will be watching with bated breath.
