From Bhuvneshwar’s demolition jobs to Hardik’s all-round heroics, these spells shaped India’s dominance
The Asia Cup has long been regarded as a festival
for batters — flat pitches, lightning-fast outfields, and the pressure to entertain. However, time and again, it has been India’s bowlers who have shifted the momentum. In a format where one over can alter the outcome, a few inspired spells have paved India’s route to victory.
With the 2025 edition approaching in the UAE, here’s a look back at five bowling masterclasses that shaped India’s T20 Asia Cup journey.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar 5/4 vs Afghanistan, Dubai 2022
It remains one of the most ruthless T20 spells ever bowled. In Dubai on September 8, 2022, while Virat Kohli grabbed headlines with a drought-breaking century, Bhuvneshwar Kumar quietly worked magic with the ball.
Credit: ESPN
His figures — 4 overs, 1 maiden, 4 runs, 5 wickets — read like fiction. Bowling with impeccable control, he swung the new ball and dismantled Afghanistan’s top order, conceding just 1 run per over. India’s 101-run win was led by Kohli’s bat but secured by Bhuvi’s artistry.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4/26 vs PAK, Dubai 2022
Few things fire up an Indian fast bowler more than PAK. In the group-stage clash at Dubai on August 28, 2022, Bhuvneshwar once again struck at critical moments. He dismissed Babar Azam early and returned at the death to finish with 4 for 26 in 4 overs.
His spell disrupted PAKm, restricting them to 147 all out. India won with two balls to spare, but without Bhuvi’s early breakthrough and clever variations at the death, the chase would have looked much harder.
Hardik Pandya 3/8 vs PAK, Mirpur 2016
India’s low-scoring victory over PAK in Mirpur remains one of the defining moments of the 2016 T20 Asia Cup. On a challenging pitch, Hardik Pandya bowled as if possessed, taking 3 for 8 in 3.3 overs. PAK collapsed to 83 all out, their batting dismantled by Pandya’s sharp back-of-length deliveries.
Credit: ESPN
India faltered in reply but still comfortably won with 27 balls remaining. Hardik’s spell, featuring 14 dot balls, was a breakthrough — the night he truly announced himself as India’s enforcer.
Ashish Nehra 3/23 vs Bangladesh, Mirpur 2016
On February 24, 2016, a 36-year-old Ashish Nehra reminded everyone of his skill. Against hosts Bangladesh, Nehra struck three times with the new ball, finishing with 3 for 23 in 4 overs. His economy of 5.75 ensured Bangladesh never gained momentum in the chase of 167.
Credit: ESPN
India’s bowlers, led by Nehra’s precision, restricted Bangladesh to 121/7, securing a 45-run victory. For a veteran written off many times, this was redemption — an exhibition of control, discipline, and guile.
Hardik Pandya 3/25 vs PAK, Dubai 2022
If one match epitomised Hardik Pandya, the all-rounder, it was in Dubai on August 28, 2022. First, he bowled with venom, mixing short balls and slower deliveries to take 3 for 25 in 4 overs.
Credit: ESPN
Then, with India wavering in the chase, he smashed an unbeaten 33 off 17 balls, finishing with a six over mid-wicket. He walked away as Player of the Match, but more importantly, as the heartbeat of India’s win. This was Hardik at his best — bowler, batter, match-winner.
