IND vs PAK | Kuldeep Yadav drops a sitter, Abhishek Sharma spills two costly chances as India’s sloppy fielding becomes the talking point

Despite a strong start with the ball in the high-octane Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash between India and Pakistan, India’s fielding left much to be desired, with two costly drops from Abhishek Sharma and a sitter spilled by Kuldeep Yadav.

A major lapse came early in the innings, as Varun Chakravarthy deceived Saim Ayub with a well-disguised googly. The southpaw, attempting a sweep, managed only a top edge. The ball looped high into the night sky, providing a straightforward opportunity at short fine leg. Kuldeep Yadav tracked it from his position, but inexplicably failed to latch on, letting the ball slip through his hands. It was a regulation catch by all standards — one India may come to rue.

Abhishek Sharma, too, had a torrid time in the outfield. His first mistake occurred in the very first over, as Shahibzada Farhan slashed hard at a fuller delivery from Hardik Pandya. Positioned at third man, Abhishek sprinted to his right, got into position, but couldn’t hold on during a diving attempt. The ball burst through his hands, allowing Farhan to steal a couple of crucial runs.

The second drop was even more costly. Varun Chakravarthy once again induced a mis-hit from Farhan, who launched the ball towards long-on. Abhishek was stationed perfectly but misjudged the flight. The ball smacked his palm and bounced over the ropes — turning a potential wicket into six demoralising runs.

However, Abhishek finally made amends with a moment of brilliance. Shivam Dube’s short-pitched delivery induced another top-edge from Saim Ayub. Positioned at deep backward square leg, Abhishek covered good ground and dived forward to complete a stunning catch. The breakthrough ended a dangerous 72-run partnership, handing India a much-needed boost.

In a moment of respite for Indian cricket fans, Sahibzada Farhan was eventually dismissed for 58 by the man in the spotlight, Shivam Dube, caught off skipper Suryakumar Yadav's bowling.

Despite the moments of redemption, India’s early fielding lapses highlighted a worrying trend. In a high-stakes encounter like this, dropped chances could prove decisive — especially against a batting unit like Pakistan’s.