Not Suryakumar Yadav! 30-Year-Old Wins POTM Award In India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Match | Cricket News

India captain Suryakumar Yadav top-scored in the 128-run chase on Sunday, September 14, to help the Men in Blue win the high-voltage Asia Cup 2025 Group A match against Pakistan by 7 wickets. The cricketer from Mumbai, who is celebrating his 35th birthday on Sunday, remained unbeaten on 47 runs and, during his 37-ball stay at the crease, hammered 5 fours and 1 six. He sealed the win for the world No. 1 T20I side by smacking Sufiyan Muqeem for a six on the fifth ball of the 16th over.

But despite his super show with the bat, Surya didn’t win the Player of the Match (POTM) award, and instead of him, it was bagged by Kuldeep Yadav. The 30-year-old cricketer from Kanpur bowled four overs for the Men in Blue on Sunday and picked up three wickets for 18 runs.

Kuldeep opened his wicket account by dismissing Hasan Nawaz (5) on the fourth ball of the 13th over, and on the next ball trapped Mohammad Nawaz in front of the wickets for a golden duck.

On the first ball of the 17th over of Pakistan’s innings, he then picked up Sahibzada Farhan’s wicket. Farhan was caught by Hardik Pandya near the boundary ropes for 40 runs from 44 balls.

In India’s first match of the Asia Cup 2025 as well, Kuldeep won the POTM award. In that fixture he picked up four wickets for 7 runs in 2.1 overs against the United Arab Emirates.

For India, apart from Kuldeep, Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah picked up two wickets each on Sunday, and one Pakistani batter each was sent back to the pavilion by Hardik Pandya and Varun Chakaravarthy.

For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi remained unbeaten on 33 runs from 16 balls, and Farhan scored 40 runs from 44 balls. During his stay at the crease, Afridi hammered four sixes on Sunday.

In the bowling, Saim Ayub picked up three wickets for the Men in Green. He bowled four overs and conceded 35 runs.

India will next take the field on Sunday, September 19, against Oman in Abu Dhabi, whereas Pakistan’s third and final Group A match is against the UAE on Wednesday (December 17) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

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