The win marks India’s second triumph over Pakistan in this T20 tournament

India continued their dominance over archrivals Pakistan, securing a commanding six-wicket victory with seven balls to spare in a high-octane Asia Cup Super Four clash at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

Powered by a blistering 74 off just 39 balls from opener Abhishek Sharma — including 4 fours and 4 sixes — and a rock-solid 105-run opening stand with Shubman Gill (47 off 28), the defending champions chased down Pakistan’s 171/5 with clinical efficiency.

The win marks India’s second triumph over Pakistan in this T20 tournament — having earlier defeated them by seven wickets in the group stage — and keeps them firmly in contention for a finals berth.

In a match shadowed by geopolitical tensions following May’s military flare-up between the nuclear neighbors, there was no post-match handshake — a grim reminder of the frosty relations off the field.

On it, emotions ran high. Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf (2/26) exchanged heated words with Sharma and Gill during India’s chase, sparking a brief but intense on-field confrontation that had fans on edge.

Asked to bat first, Pakistan got off to a shaky start as Fakhar Zaman (15) departed early. But Sahibzada Farhan (58 off 45) — dropped on the very first ball by Sharma — and Saim Ayub (21) steadied the ship with a 72-run partnership, helping Pakistan reach 91/1 at the halfway mark.

However, a dramatic middle-overs collapse saw them go boundary-less for six overs as Farhan, Ayub, and Hussain Talat (10) fell in quick succession.

Late fireworks from captain Salman Ali Agha (17* off 13) and Faheem Ashraf (20* off 8) — who smashed 42 runs in the final three overs — lifted Pakistan to a competitive 171/5.

Sharma lit up the chase from ball one — launching Shaheen Shah Afridi for a six — and raced to a 24-ball half-century. With Gill anchoring elegantly at the other end, India looked unstoppable.

But Pakistan struck back: Faheem Ashraf clean-bowled Gill in the 10th over, followed immediately by Haris Rauf trapping captain Suryakumar Yadav for a golden duck. Sharma’s dismissal soon after to leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed briefly stalled India’s momentum.

The left-hander smashed 30 off just 19 balls — including a towering six and a boundary off Afridi in the penultimate over — to seal the win in style, sparking wild celebrations in the Indian camp.

Pakistan, still searching for their first Super Four win, face Sri Lanka on Tuesday. India, meanwhile, take on Bangladesh on Wednesday — fresh off their Saturday win over Sri Lanka — as the race for the final heats up.