Dubai, Sept. 22 -- India rode on a blistering opening stand from Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill to ease past Pakistan by six wickets in their Asia Cup Super Four encounter on Sunday night, wrapping up the chase with seven balls to spare at the Dubai International Stadium.

Set 172, India came out swinging. Abhishek, the left-hander who has been growing in stature over the past year, produced a career-defining knock of 74 off just 39 balls, striking six fours and five sixes. Gill, equally fluent, cracked 47 off 28.

Together they put on 105 for the first wicket in under 10 overs, effectively taking the game away from Pakistan before the halfway stage.

Pakistan had no answers during that onslaught. Shaheen Shah Afridi's pace was blunted,...