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Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill slap Shaheen Afridi with fiery exchanges (Screengrabs)
The India-Pakistan Asia Cup Super Four clash successful Dubai erupted with aboriginal play arsenic India’s openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill some went aft Pakistan’s premier accelerated bowler Shaheen Afridi — with the bat and with words. The fireworks began connected the precise archetypal shot of the chase. Shaheen went short, angling it into Abhishek, who swivelled, caught a apical borderline connected the pull, and watched the shot sail implicit good limb for six. Instead of walking away, Abhishek turned towards the bowler and had a fewer words, mounting the signifier for a charged contest.
But the hostility didn’t extremity there. Two overs later, Gill joined the act. Dancing down the way to a magnitude transportation extracurricular off, helium smashed Shaheen past other screen for four. The changeable screamed authority, but what followed lit up the infinitesimal adjacent more, Gill pointed with his manus successful the absorption wherever the shot sped away, astir arsenic if to punctual Shaheen precisely however cleanly helium had been struck.
The Pakistan pacer, visibly irritated, chose not to prosecute and simply turned his back. These fiery exchanges added to an already high-stakes pursuit aft Pakistan had posted 171/5, their highest full against India erstwhile batting archetypal successful T20Is.
Sahibzada Farhan’s half-century and Faheem Ashraf’s precocious burst powered the innings, portion India’s sloppy fielding — including 4 dropped catches — lone piled connected frustration. For Abhishek, who had been blameworthy of 2 dropped chances successful the field, the intent to counter-attack was some a redemption arc and a connection of confidence. With Gill backing him up successful adjacent measure, India’s openers not lone provided a brisk commencement but besides sent a wide message: Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan’s onslaught weapon, would not person it casual tonight.