Shaheen Afridi’s swing vs Abhishek Sharma’s firepower: Battle that can define Asia Cup final

Abhishek Sharma vs Shaheen Afridi (Source:AFP)

As the fans eagerly wait for the Asia Cup 2025 final this Sunday (September 28, 2025), one rivalry that is being hyped as the 'battle within the battle' is Abhishek Sharma vs Shaheen Shah Afridi. With India set to face Pakistan in an electrifying finale, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel - described this face-off as an "edge-of-the-seat" contest.

"Shaheen is obviously an aggressive bowler that will try and knock you over. And Abhishek is not going to hold back. I think so far, every time these two went head-to-head, we all as cricket supporters and fans are on the edge of our seats, and that's great for the game," Morkel said.

So in this article, let's take a look at the whether Morne Morkel is right and whether this battle can change the outcome of the game.

Abhishek Sharma – India’s Powerplay Destroyer

The 2025 has seen the rise of Abhishek Sharma as a world-class T20 opener. His fearless approach at the top of the order has given India explosive starts throughout the tournament (Asia Cup 2025), especially during the powerplay.

Why Abhishek Sharma is India's trump card in the powerplay?

The explosive left-hander has been in remarkable form throughout the tournament, but beyond the numbers lies a deeper impact. Abhishek has been the main player behind India's fiery start in the prestigious tournament. His ability to find boundaries consistently have given the Men in Blue the perfect platform in nearly every game.

It would not be incorrect to say that India's innings have notably lost momentum after his dismissals. With players like Suryakumar Yadav, and Sanju Samson struggling in the middle order , Abhishek's presence has become even more important as an opener.

In a format (T20) where powerplay dominance often decides the flow of the game, Abhishek has emerged as a game-changer for India and similar start will be expected from him in the final.

• In 2025, Abhishek has scored 375 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 219.3, with an average of 93.8. His dot ball percentage has improved dramatically, dropping from 48.5% in 2024 to just 31.0% in 2025. 
• Across 2024 and 2025 in the powerplay, the Punjab batter has made 531 runs in 21 innings, with a blazing strike rate of 195.2 and an average of 44.2. Notably, he has already dominated Shaheen Afridi in both India-Pakistan clashes in this Asia Cup.

(Abhishek Sharma's stats in powerplay)

Abhishek Sharma's 2025 Asia Cup numbers

In the 2025 Asia Cup, Abhishek Sharma has played 6 matches and made a total of 309 runs. He maintained an impressive batting average of 51.50 and a strike rate of 204.63.

Shaheen Afridi's powerplay stats

On the other side is Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan’s most potent new-ball threat. The ace pacer has the ability to generate deadly swing and can be threat in the final of the Asia Cup 2025. Known for his ability to generate lethal late swing with the new ball, Shaheen’s role in the early overs in the final will be vital for setting the tone against India's batting lineup.

Why Shaheen Afridi is Pakistan's trump card in the powerplay?

Despite not having a remarkable tournament so far, including two wicketless matches against India, Shaheen’s impact in the powerplay overs cannot be ignored. Pakistan will want Afridi to find his rhythm at the right moment and provide a crucial breakthrough early on by dismissing Indian openers, particularly in-form Abhishek.

However, it is important to mention that he has struggled against Abhishek. The Indian opener has consistently neutralised his early overs and scored well against him.

• In 2024, Shaheen took 17 wickets in 23 innings, with a strike rate of 16.8 and economy of 8.01 in the powerplay. While 2025 saw a dip in wickets (just 8 in 16 innings), his economy rate improved to 6.94.
• Overall, Shaheen Afridi has 51 wickets in 87 innings with an average of 24.1 and a dot ball percentage of 56.4%. It would not be wrong to say that these numbers can still make him a nightmare in the powerplay.

(Shaheen Afridi's stats in powerplay)

Shaheen Afridi's 2025 Asia Cup numbers

Abhishek vs Shaheen: Head-to-head stats in powerplay

Conclusion- A battle that could define the final

Abhishek’s powerplay dominance and Shaheen’s early threat clearly means this match-up could be the decider of Asia Cup final.

If Shaheen dismisses Abhishek early, it might expose India’s middle order under pressure. On the other hand, if Abhishek survives and counterattacks aggressively, he could take the game away in the first six overs.

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