Asia Cup 2025 sets the stage for high-stakes T20 action in the UAE. Scheduled from September 9 to 28, the tournament brings together eight teams, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman and Hong Kong, competing across group stages, a Super Four round and a final in Dubai. It also serves as a vital warm-up for the next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
However, in this article, we will make you revisit the 2018 edition of Asia Cup:
India’s journey in the 2018 Asia Cup began with a match against Hong Kong at Dubai’s International Cricket Stadium. Rohit Sharma captained in Virat Kohli’s absence and although he fell early, Shikhar Dhawan’s century and Ambati Rayudu’s half-century steadied the innings. But after both departed, the Indian middle order faltered. That’s when MS Dhoni stepped in and the stadium roared with chants of his name. Among the fielders, Ehsan Khan, fielding short fine leg, silently held a dream – to dismiss this legend.
When Dhoni finally took strike, Ehsan Khan delivered a turning delivery that skidded off the bat’s edge into the keeper’s gloves, true validation of his hopes. The silence that followed spoke volumes, Ehsan, overwhelmed with joy, might never have imagined the moment would become real.
In recalling that instance, he admired how MS Dhoni walked off without waiting for the umpire’s decision, an example of the legend’s grace. After the game, messages of congratulations poured in from all over the globe. For Ehsan Khan, dismissing MS Dhoni stood out as a highlight of his career.
Seven years have since passed; MS Dhoni has retired from international cricket, though he still dazzles fans in the IPL. Ehsan Khan, now 40, continues to anchor Hong Kong’s cricketing efforts as their most senior player. He draws strength from a simple piece of advice Dhoni once gave him — that age is just a number. To Ehsan, that philosophy resonates deeply. Fitness and experience, he believes, are crucial, and now he recognises past mistakes and approaches the game with greater tact and confidence.
Ehsan Khan’s path wasn’t easy. Leaving Rawalpindi in 2012 for club cricket in Hong Kong, he has since featured in 15 ODIs and 94 T20 Internationals over a 27-year career. In 2024, he celebrated a remarkable milestone — reaching 100 T20I wickets in just 71 innings, matching Pakistan’s Haris Rauf.
He also ranked fourth globally for wickets in a calendar year, claiming 46 dismissals. Still, he emphasises that while personal milestones matter, what truly counts is the impact on his team.
His admiration for Dhoni runs deep, so much so that he’s writing a book on his cricketing life, with a full chapter dedicated to those encounters. He also holds dear the memory of Virat Kohli praising his bowling and of dismissing Babar Azam twice, moments that fuel his pride.
Often considered minnows, Hong Kong defy expectations, as they did in 2018 when Anshuman Rath and Nizakat Khan shared a 174-run partnership that shook Indian hopes. Now, placed in Group B for Asia Cup 2025 alongside Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Ehsan Khan sees Afghanistan as a formidable opponent. Having improved significantly, with players excelling in franchise leagues like the IPL, the Afghan team is not to be underestimated. Yet Hong Kong have faced them three times before — in 2016, 2018, and most recently in the Emerging Nations tournament, and won. Those victories still inspire confidence and Ehsan believes they can challenge them again.
Ehsan Khan’s story reflects more than a career, it’s a great example of enduring passion, a lesson in staying relevant, and a reminder that moments of glory often come when least expected.
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