I did not like it: Abhishek Sharma opens up on altercation with Haris Rauf after India beat Pakistan

New Delhi: Abhishek Sharma showed his class with a fiery knock against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, September 21. The left-hand batter scored 74 runs in just 39 deliveries

Abhishek was involved in a heated argument with Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf in the second innings. The left-hander smashed a six on the first ball of the innings against Afridi and was involved in a war of words. Rauf came into the attack in the fifth over, and Abhishek was aggressive and indulged in another altercation, which led to the on-field umpire intervening in the fight.

After the game, Abhishek stated that the Pakistan players were coming after them without any reason, that's why the left-hander went after them.

"Today was pretty simple. The way they were coming out to us without any reason, I did not like it at all. That's why I went after them. I wanted to deliver for the team." Abhishek Sharma in the post-match presentation.

The opener also expressed his relationship with Shubman Gill, as both have been playing cricket since school days, and now both are representing the nation.

"We have been playing since school days, we enjoy each other's company, we thought we would do it and today was the day. The way he was giving it back, I really enjoyed it. If you see someone playing like this, it's because the team supports me and they back me. That's the intent I show and I'm practicing really hard and if it's my day, I'm gonna win it for my team" he added.

The left-handed batter won the player of the match award after his match-winning innings. Abhishek also became the first Indian batter to smash a first-ball six twice in T20I cricket.

Abhishek has become the first Indian to score a half-century against Pakistan in T20Is since 2012, apart from Virat Kohli. This was his third half-century in his T20I career, and he also became the highest run-scorer in the ongoing Asia Cup.