Watch: Viral video shows Rinku Singh stopping Shubman Gill from assaulting Haris Rauf after Abhishek Sharma spat

Team India openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma were involved in a verbal exchange with Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf during the Super Four clash between the two teams in the Asia Cup 2025. Rinku Singh intervened to drag Gill away as Rauf attempted to unsettle the Indian openers in the match.

India continued their dominance over Pakistan in T20Is. They restricted them to 171/5 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 21. The Men in Blue chased down the target in 18.5 overs, with Abhishek Sharma earning the Player of the Match award for his batting display in the one-sided contest.

Watch: Rinku Singh Steps In During Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill vs Haris Rauf Verbal Exchange

Abhishek Sharma smashed Shaheen Afridi for a six on the first ball of the chase. The tension escalated in the fifth over, when Haris Rauf exchanged words with both Abhishek and Shubman Gill, prompting umpire Gazi Sohel to intervene.

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Rauf shared a few words with Abhishek early in the over. Gill smashed a pull shot on the final ball and responded with a glare. Abhishek joined in verbally from the non-striker’s end, and the exchange quickly intensified as the two sides came face-to-face before being separated by officials.

While broadcasters missed the full altercation by cutting to commercials, a new viral clip later revealed that Rinku Singh dragged Gill away from the confrontation. Rinku and Harshit Rana had entered the field with drinks for the batters.

The footage also showed the umpire discussing with Pakistan skipper Salman Agha and Afridi while Rauf walked back to collect his cap. The incident has grabbed attention on social media.

Full lafda live...

Haris Rauf's lafda with Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill live...

Piche se humare 2 bande bhi aa gye thee Rinku Singh or Harshit Rana...

Rinku bhai ne matter sambhal liya. pic.twitter.com/eE8KaJDZNc

— AT10 (@Loyalsachfan10) September 23, 2025

Abhishek Sharma Named Player of the Match for his Knock

The Suryakumar Yadav-led team started the Super Four stage with a six-wicket victory. Openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill added 105 runs for the first wicket. Abhishek hammered 74 runs off 39 balls, including six fours and five sixes, while Gill amassed 47 runs off 28 balls with eight boundaries.

By the time Abhishek fell in the 13th over, the contest was already sealed in India’s favor. Pakistan bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf struggled to make an impact. Afridi went wicketless while conceding 40 runs. Rauf picked up two late wickets, but came far too late to alter the outcome.

Pakistan will next square off against Sri Lanka in a must-win encounter on Tuesday, September 23, while India will take on Bangladesh on Wednesday, September 24.

This Is the Only Way I Give Medicine to Them - Abhishek Sharma

Speaking after the match, Abhishek Sharma said that his aggressive batting was a response to Pakistan’s provocation. Sharma stated that he used it as a way to “give medicine” after feeling unsettled by their approach.

"Today it was very simple, the way they (Pakistan players) were coming at us for no reason, I didn't like it at all and this is the only way (his aggressive batting) I could give medicine to them," said Abhishek in the post-match presentation.

The 25-year-old is the leading run-getter in the tournament, with 173 runs in four innings at an average of 43.25 and at a strike rate of 208.43, including one fifty. He has scored 708 runs in 20 T20I innings at an average of 35.40 and a strike rate of 197.21, including two centuries and three fifties.

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