During the Super Four match of the Asia Cup 2025 between India and Pakistan, Indian opener Abhishek Sharma revealed that he and his opening partner, Shubman Gill, were subjected to "personal attacks" by Pakistani pacers Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf. The young batsman felt that the Pakistani bowlers crossed a line with their unnecessary aggression and constant sledging.

Sharma stated that the Pakistani bowlers were trying to provoke him and Gill with personal jibes after almost every ball. He didn't appreciate their behavior, which he felt was not in the spirit of cricket. In response, Sharma and Gill decided to give them a "befitting reply" with their bats. Sharma emphasized that he felt it was necessary to respond to the personal attacks in his own style, and that the best way to answer them was by winning the match.

The heated exchanges began early in India's run chase. Sharma hit Afridi for a six off the very first ball, leading to a verbal confrontation between the two. Cameras captured Sharma mouthing something aggressively at Afridi, although it's unclear what Afridi said initially. Later, Gill smashed a boundary off Rauf, resulting in another heated argument involving Sharma and Rauf, requiring the umpire's intervention. Gill was also heard saying, "Jaa, ball lekar aa (go fetch the ball)" to Afridi after hitting him for consecutive boundaries.

Sharma's explosive innings of 74 runs from 39 balls earned him the Player of the Match award and helped India chase down the target of 172. His aggressive batting silenced the Pakistani bowlers and secured a six-wicket victory for India. Sharma's response to the "personal attacks" was praised as a "masterclass".

Suryakumar Yadav lauded Gill and Sharma for their outstanding opening partnership, describing them as a "fire and ice combination". He also commended the team's overall performance and their ability to fight back after Pakistan's strong start.

The India-Pakistan match was filled with drama, skill, and intense on-field clashes. The verbal exchanges between the players added to the high-voltage atmosphere of the contest. While sledging is a part of the game, Sharma felt that the personal nature of the attacks from Afridi and Rauf was unwarranted.

Despite the heated exchanges and dropped catches, India maintained their dominance over Pakistan, securing another victory in the Asia Cup. Sharma's aggressive approach and his determination to respond to the Pakistani bowlers with his bat were key factors in India's success.