India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, commended his team’s composure during the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4s match against Pakistan, despite facing continuous provocation from the Pakistani side. The match at Dubai International Stadium saw tensions escalate, with Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf at the center of several incidents. Rauf was particularly criticized for his offensive hand gestures, initially signaling ‘6-0′ and later mimicking fighter planes being shot down, interpreted as a reference to Pakistan’s claims of downing Indian aircraft. Sahibzada Farhan also engaged in provocative behavior during the match. Ten Doeschate acknowledged the difficult situation, highlighting the pressure on the players and praising their ability to maintain focus. He emphasized the team’s pride in their conduct and performance, particularly their batting. The Indian openers, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, responded with a strong 105-run partnership, with Gill scoring 47 and Abhishek contributing 74. Ten Doeschate observed the Pakistani team’s words, noting the Indian team’s ability to stick to their game plan and secure the win. India successfully chased down Pakistan’s target of 172 with seven balls remaining, thanks to unbeaten contributions from Hardik Pandya (13) and Tilak Varma (30). Ten Doeschate lauded Abhishek and Gill for their maturity, underscoring that the Pakistan pacers’ intentions were clear through their sledging. India is scheduled to face Bangladesh in the Super 4s on Wednesday, September 24, at the same venue.
