Asia Cup 2022: India vs Pakistan - Babar Azam's men clinch thriller in Dubai

India vs Pakistan - the greatest rivalry in cricket! And Round 2 between the two arch-rivals lived up to its billing.

It was Pakistan this time, who took home the honours by winning a last-over thriller in Dubai.

Chasing 182 for victory, Pakistan lost captain Babar Azam early and while Fakhar Zaman too perished cheaply, Mohd Rizwan continued from where he left off in the game against Hong Kong.

The wicket keeper-batsman struck yet another fifty and kept Pakistan in the hunt. The surprise promotion of Mohd Nawaz up the order though proved to be the game-changer. The bowling all-rounder struck a brilliant 20-ball 42 to put Pakistan in the ascendancy.

Nawaz's departure, along with Rizwan's fall for a 51-ball 71 soon after, raised India's hopes but Arshdeep Singh dropped a sitter in the 18th over to give the Men in Green a lifeline.

That dropped chance, followed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar leaking 19 runs in the 19th over, proved to be decisive. And while Arshdeep nailed a couple of yorkers in the final over, it just wasn't enough as Pakistan completed a 5-wicket victory.

Earlier, having been put in to bat, India got off to a flyer with Rohit & Rahul putting together a 54-run stand inside the first 5 overs. And while Virat Kohli registered his 2nd consecutive T20I fifty, India lost regular wickets at the other end. Kohli's 44-ball 60 though ensured the Men in Blue got past the 180-run mark.

As it turned out, 181 on the board didn't suffice.