It Was Way Too Easy for India – Pakistan’s Collapse & Ex-Players’ Predictions in Asia Cup 2025

Sep 14, 2025

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By the time India sealed a 7-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025, many in the cricket world felt it wasn’t surprising. The lead-up to the match was fraught — political tension, boycott calls, former stars speaking out. In short: Pakistan’s defeat, while painful, was being foreshadowed long before the first ball.

Pre-Match Vibes: What Was Said Before the Clash

Individual	Role	What They Said / Predicting	Tone & Implication
Salman Ali Agha (Pakistan captain)	Skipper	“Going to bat first. We’ve been playing good cricket, very excited. Looks like a slow wicket. Just want to bat first and put runs on the board.”	Confident but cautious — suggesting a modest total, aware of conditions.
Suryakumar Yadav (India captain)	Skipper	“We were looking to bowl first, happy with it. … It’s humid, hoping for some dew.”	Calm, pragmatic, focused on tactics.
Harbhajan Singh (former Indian player)	Ex-player-commentator	Expressed that India-Pakistan matches shouldn’t happen when diplomatic relations are strained.	Undercurrent of moral/political concern; skepticism about playing for sports’s sake alone.
Wasim Akram (former Pakistan captain)	Ex-player/commentator	Warned fans to stay disciplined, the rivalry was “highly charged.” Urged patriotism but within sportsmanship.	Recognizing tension; signaling pressure on Pakistan’s team beyond just cricket.
Pak analyst Shahnawaz Rana	Media / Analyst	Made inflammatory comment suggesting Pakistan “could demolish Somnath temple,” which drew huge backlash.	Escalated political and communal undercurrents, added burden on Pakistan’s side.

Key Highlights & Match Flow

Phase	What Happened	Turning Points / India’s Dominance
Powerplay & Early Overs	Hardik Pandya removed Saim Ayub for a golden duck (first legitimate ball). Jasprit Bumrah got Mohammad Haris.	Huge early pressure. Pakistan up against it immediately.
Middle Overs — Spin Reigns	Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel tore through middle order. Multiple key wickets like Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz fell cheaply.	India controlled tempo; cut off scoring and momentum.
Death Overs (Pak)	Shaheen Afridi’s late onslaught gave respectability: 33* off 16 with 4 sixes. But too little, too late.	Even great hitting from tail didn’t make target competitive.
India’s Chase	Abhishek Sharma’s explosive start (31 off 13), followed by stable finish by SKY with Tilak Varma helping.	India never looked under pressure; the chase was clinical and quick.

Pakistan’s Side: Comments During & After

Some Pakistani media reaction admitted the team was underprepared — lacking middle order consistency and unable to handle spin under pressure.
Pakistani ex-players voiced concern that the team lets early aggression from India unsettle their plans. One said that dropping catches and failing at key moments (like handling spin) make matches “shorter” than they should be.
From the commentary box, “Pakistan seems to be reacting rather than playing proactively” was a frequent refrain, especially when India’s rotations (of bowlers, fielding shifts) put constant pressure.

Why It Was “Too Easy” for India

Bowling First Paid Off: Choosing to bowl first, India exploited pitch and conditions, especially turn and seam. Pakistani batting was shaky under pressure.
Middle Order Collapse: Once Farhan & Fakhar’s partnership was broken, most batsmen lacked counter-attack or defense against spin.
Depth of India’s Batting: Even after early wicket loss, India’s lineup not only covered but accelerated. Abhishek Sharma’s hitting and SKY’s captain’s calmness underlined the strength.
Fielding & Extras Difference: Tight fielding, sharp catches, fewer errors contrasted sharply with Pakistan’s dropped chances and pressure errors.
Psychological Edge: Political tension, public expectations, and pre-match commentary had built up pressure on Pakistan. India seemed mentally freer, playing with assuredness.

Pakistan Ex-Player & Commentator Voices

Wasim Akram urged supporters and team to stay dignified, highlighting that agitation and aggression can’t substitute for consistency and skill.
Other Pakistani analysts admitted that “Pakistan is lacking match finishers” and “loses composure when early wickets fall.”
Some voices from Pakistan media criticized selection choices, saying spinners weren’t used smartly in early overs, and batting order didn’t adjust to India’s bowlers.

Indian Dominance: What Made India Superior

India Strength	Example from Match
Reliable Spin Attack	Kuldeep’s three wickets and Axar’s two – choking the middle overs.
Power Hitting up front	Abhishek Sharma’s blitz early, Tilak’s aggression took Pakistan bowlers apart.
Leadership & Game Plan	SKY (Suryakumar) kept intent high, rotating batters, not letting Pakistani bowlers settle.
Bowling Discipline	Hardik, Bumrah, Chakaravarthy kept things tight; Pakistan couldn’t exploit slackness.
Mental Edge	Amid boycott clamour and tension, India played free, confident; Pakistan seemed burdened.

Table: Match Snapshot at a Glance

Element	Pakistan	India
Total Runs	127/9 (20 overs)	131/3 (15.5 overs)
Best Bat	Sahibzada Farhan 40(44), Shaheen Afridi 33*(16)	Suryakumar Yadav 47*(37), Abhishek Sharma 31(13)
Best Bowl	Kuldeep Yadav 3/18, Axar Patel 2/18	Same bowlers took wickets; India had tighter fielding & fewer loose deliveries
Early Wickets	Yes, Hardik & Bumrah struck early	–
Match Dominance	India in control from middle overs	India finished off without major hiccup

Reflections & What This Means Going Forward

For Pakistan: Need reassessment — ability to resist spin under pressure, middle order temperament, and handling early breakdowns will decide future rivalry matches.
For India: Reinforced position as favorites. Their depth, both bowling and batting, is giving them not just wins, but convincing ones.
For Fans & Politics: These matches may no longer surprise; the upset potential is decreasing. Emotions, voices of boycott, political overtones are part of the narrative more than before.

India’s win over Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025 was not just a result; it was a message. The ease with which India controlled the match, capitalized on early wickets, and finished the chase with dominance shows a shift — in skills, psychology, and expectations. As Pakistan grapples with criticism, India strides forward, not cocky, but confident. For fans watching, this match may not go down as a classic, but it marks a turning point in this legendary rivalry.