NEW DELHI: Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan believes his most unforgettable six-hitting moments have come against India, with the Asia Cup standing out as a turning point. Speaking about those big hits, Farhan said the impact of his boundary-hitting was noticed soon after—“The ones I hit against India in the Asia Cup. People started to recognise my six-hitting ability after that,” he said.
Farhan’s standout showing in that final featured three sixes off Jasprit Bumrah, a rare accomplishment in international T20 cricket. Even with his power display, Pakistan fell short as India—captained in the chase by Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership—completed a successful run chase. Tilak Varma played a key role in finishing the job for India.
After the match, Farhan clarified that his mindset was not limited to singling out Bumrah. He pointed out that India’s bowling unit was strong and that Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav were equally important challenges. Farhan said, “Speaking about Bumrah, I don’t think there was only Bumrah in that (Indian) team. All of them were some of the best bowlers, like Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. So it’s not that there was only Bumrah. But I started with Bumrah. You get confidence as a player when you hit a good player for a six.”
He also acknowledged that Bumrah made the early phase difficult for him. Farhan explained that the pacer’s variety—slower balls, yorkers, and bouncers—combined with his ability to swing the ball both ways creates constant pressure. “If you look at him, he gave me a tough time in the beginning. He was bowling slower ones, yorkers and bouncers. He swings the ball, bowls outswing and inswing. It’s natural that it’s very difficult to play him. So you have to find your way. And when you cross that phase, the rest of the bowlers seem easy to you, I think,” he added.
Since 2025, Farhan has carried his form into T20 cricket with heavy scores and record-breaking contributions, including a memorable campaign at the T20 World Cup. Still, his international performances have not been without controversy—he faced criticism for a heated celebration against India where he mimicked an AK-47 shot, a moment that upset supporters and resulted in a reprimand.
