India's six-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup Super Fours game in Dubai was emphatic – sad to say, nearly as ever. The chase of 172 never looked in doubt, with opener Abhishek Sharma's sparkling 74 off 39 balls sealing the contest. On the field, the difference in quality during the powerplay was glaring, as Pakistan's bowlers failed to rein in India's aggression. Pakistan's skipper Salman Ali Agha admitted as much, conceding that the bowling let his side down after a promising batting display.

Still, it would be naive to ignore the weight of conditions. The Dubai pitch has long favoured teams batting second due to the dew factor, and Sunday was no different. Winning the toss gave India an undeniable edge, which they capitalised on with clinical precision. Yet, beyond the cricketing

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