Asia Cup recap: When Harbhajan Singh smashed six off Mohammad Amir to help India beat Pakistan in Asia Cup 2010

Harbhajan Singh hit 15 runs including 2 sixes against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2010.

Just a few days from now, India will be taking on their arch-rivals, Pakistan. Asia Cup 2023 will be the centre stage for the biggest battle between two neighbours. The clash between them is always a spectacle to watch, be it anywhere in the world, a full house and empty roads in both countries are almost a guarantee. Fans will witness the same excitement and thrill level on September 2 when they take on each other at Pallekele Stadium in Kandy. India and Pakistan have had many memorable encounters and personal battles between the two players. Similarly, in the 2010 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, Harbhajan Singh had a moment against former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar.

Intense India vs Pakistan clash in 2010

The game was intense as India chased 268 runs at Dambulla. Team India, once going strong in the chase with Gautam Gambhir (83) and MS Dhoni (56) in their fifties, lost the plot as soon as these two guys departed. Pakistan were taking control of the game with their spinners. Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi used the conditions nicely and broke the partnerships in favour of Pakistan. Pakistan needed the victory to keep themselves alive in the Asia Cup tournament. They were cruising in the same direction as well. Suresh Raina (34) with his cameo did manage to put India in the competition once again, along with off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

When Harbhajan Singh walked in to bat along with Suresh Raina, India required 49 runs in the last 5 overs. He stitched a 43-runs stand with the left-hand batter to put India back in charge once again, but Raina lost his wicket. This fueled Pakistan once more, and they sensed a real chance of winning, as well as their longer stay in Asia Cup 2010. Harbhajan Singh was in a different mood. This was the year when Harbhajan Singh smashed two back-to-back hundreds in test format. Fueled by an adrenaline rush, Harbhajan Singh smashed a six off Mohammad Amir to knock Pakistan out of the championship in the last over and fired a few words at Shoaib Akhtar after his winning shot.

Watch the video here:

Harbhajan Singh vs Shoaib Akhtar

India required 7 runs in the last over, and Raina lost his wicket with an unfortunate run-out in the second ball. The next two balls were played by Praveen Kumar, and he scored 3 runs in his 2 balls before giving the strike back to Harbhajan Singh. This was the moment when Shoaib Akhtar said something to the former Indian off-spinner that charged up Harbhajan Singh. He smoked one out of the park in the fifth delivery of the last over by Mohammad Amir. Harbhajan Singh’s six knocked Pakistan out, and he gave Shoaib Akhtar a reply in his style and fired a few words in celebration. Akhtar looked dejected and disappointed. Later on, both greeted each other suggesting the tussle should always be dusted on the field. 

Fans are in anticipation of watching these old rivalries back in the India vs Pakistan battle. The upcoming Asia Cup 2023 might see three India vs Pakistan clashes in the next 17–18 days. India will open their campaign on September 2 against Pakistan, and in a likely encounter, they will again clash against each other on September 10 at R Premadasa Stadium in the super 4 round. The top two teams will qualify for the super 4 in each group. India and Pakistan are placed in group A along with Nepal. If everything goes in favour of these two teams, they might again play in the Asia Cup final on September 17 at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo to give fans a much-needed trailer of what is coming next in the World Cup 2023 in Ahmedabad.

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