India crushed Pakistan by seven wickets in match six of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, September 14. Put in to bat first, Pakistan could only manage 127-9. Sahibzada Farhan made 40 off 44 balls, while Shaheen Shah Afridi gave the innings a late push with an unbeaten 33 from just 16 deliveries.
The Indian bowlers established the atmosphere at the beginning. Kuldeep Yadav was on top with 3-18, Axar Patel contributed with 2-18 and Jasprit Bumrah took 2-28. Varun Chakaravarthy was stingy with 1-24 and Hardik Pandya got early hits when he removed Saim Ayub on a golden duck.
The victory was India’s 166th in T20Is out of 249 matches. They’ve lost 71, six have ended in ties, and another six in no result. Interestingly, 78 of those wins have come while bowling first, underlining the strength of India’s attack when defending.
5. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is ranked fifth among the Indian bowlers with the highest wickets won in T20I victories in defence of totals. In 25 of these games, the veteran Has claimed 28 wickets on average of 25.03 and an economy of 7.48.
His most successful spell was in the 2022 Asia Cup against Pakistan in Dubai where he recorded 4-26. Previously, he was also eminent when he had 3-35 against Australia in Rajkot in 2013 and demonstrated that he can make early hits during big matches.
4. Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav has performed superbly whenever India has first bowled in T20Is. The left-arm wrist-spinner has taken 29 wickets in only 13 games with a superb average of 9.44 and has only given 5.46 runs per an over.
His match-winning performances are 5-24 against England in Manchester in 2018 and an enchanted 4-7 against UAE in 2025 Asia Cup. Kuldeep, in other comparable matches has also delivered three more three-wicket hauls, which means that he is one of the most dependable strike bowlers of India in defending situations.
3. Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah finds himself at number three with 32 wickets from 26 T20I wins while bowling first. He averages 19.71 in these contests and maintains a tidy economy of 6.59.
Though yet to claim a four-wicket haul in T20Is, his best came with 3-11 against Zimbabwe in Harare back in 2016. Over the years, he has delivered crucial spells like 2-6 against Ireland in the 2024 T20 World Cup and 2-17 against Australia in Ranchi in 2017.
2. Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh has been a revelation in recent years. In 18 T20I wins while defending totals, he has already taken 33 wickets at an average of 14.93 and an economy of 7.39.
The left-arm quick’s best came in the 2024 T20 World Cup when he demolished the USA with figures of 4-9. He has also produced big-match spells like 3-32 against Pakistan in Melbourne during the 2022 T20 World Cup and the same figures against South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram.
1. Hardik Pandya
To top the list is Hardik Pandya with 40 wickets in 35 T20I victories on the first ball. The all-rounder scores 19.47 against the ball in this type of games and maintains a stranglehold with an economy of 7.67.
He made his best showing in Bristol in 2018, where he scored 4-38 against England. Hardik has also risen to the occasion of crunch matches with Pakistan and has registered 3-30 in the 2022 T20 World Cup and 3-8 in the 2016 Asia Cup.
