Asia Cup 2025 final: Former India great gives bold verdict on Abhishek Sharma

Former India great Sunil Gavaskar has stated that India has no reason to panic even if Abhishek Sharma experiences a rare failure in the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan on Sunday, September 28. Abhishek has been in sensational form during the tournament, scoring three consecutive fifties in the Super 4s and leading the batting charts.

So far, Abhishek has accumulated 309 runs in six matches at an average of 51.50 and a strike rate of 204.63. Throughout the tournament, the Indian innings has often slowed after his dismissal, with players like Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, and others struggling to find rhythm in Dubai. Shoaib Akhtar has warned that India could face trouble if Abhishek is dismissed early.

However, Gavaskar disagrees. During an interaction after India’s win over Sri Lanka, the legendary batter emphasized that several players in the lineup are capable of making a difference. He highlighted that Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, and Hardik Pandya are due for runs. Gavaskar also believes that Shubman Gill, who has been getting starts during the tournament, is ready for a big score.

“There are plenty of key players who can make an impact. Suryakumar Yadav is due for runs, as are Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, and Hardik Pandya. Shubman Gill has batted well but hasn’t yet delivered the big scores we’ve come to expect from him recently. With so much batting firepower, there’s no reason to be overly concerned,” Gavaskar said.

The former Indian captain is also confident that the in-form Abhishek won’t miss his chances and could even convert one of his innings into a century in the final.

“Abhishek Sharma, in particular, won’t let opportunities slip by. He’s been in excellent form with three half-centuries, and despite an unfortunate run-out that cost him a potential century, he’s likely aiming for another big innings—possibly even a three-figure score,” Gavaskar added.