The rivalry that stops the cricketing world in its tracks returns to Dubai on Sunday, as India and Pakistan face off in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four stage.
Barely a week has passed since their last clash — a game dominated by India and shadowed by a bizarre “no-handshake” controversy. Since then, Pakistan have protested against match referee Andy Pycroft, cancelled a pre-match press conference, and struggled for batting consistency. India, meanwhile, arrive unbeaten, but with a fresh injury scare to all-rounder Axar Patel.
Yet, when it’s India vs Pakistan, everything resets. Form, drama, controversies — all forgotten once the first ball is bowled.
Big Picture
India enter the Super Fours unbeaten, after resting Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy in their win over Oman. Even in “experimental mode,” they proved too strong. Pakistan, though, will look at that game for encouragement — Shubman Gill was undone by left-arm swing, Sanju Samson struggled for rhythm, and India’s bowling wasn’t at its ruthless best.
For Pakistan, it’s a second life. Their qualification wasn’t convincing, but the slate is wiped clean now. On slower UAE tracks, their bowlers can keep them in the contest. The bigger question is whether their batting can finally deliver under pressure.
Form Guide
- India: WWWWW (last five T20Is)
- Pakistan: WLWWW
In the Spotlight
- Jasprit Bumrah: He hasn’t yet hit top gear, but Dubai conditions and the occasion could bring out his best.
- Saim Ayub: Three innings, zero runs with the bat, but six wickets with the ball. Pakistan need their young opener to fire, or risk another top-order collapse.
Team News
- India: Axar Patel’s head injury against Oman casts a shadow. If unfit, India may sacrifice their three-spinner setup. Riyan Parag or Washington Sundar are possible replacements.
Probable XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel/Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy. - Pakistan: Haris Rauf and Khushdil Shah strengthened their XI against UAE. Will they stick with the same combination or tweak again?
Probable XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
Key Battles
- Shaheen Afridi vs Abhishek Sharma: India’s fearless opener smashed Afridi for 22 off 8 balls in their last meeting. Can Afridi strike back?
- Hardik Pandya vs Fakhar Zaman: Pandya has troubled Fakhar, conceding only 19 off 11 balls and dismissing him once.
- Kuldeep Yadav vs Pakistan’s middle order: Kuldeep’s record in Dubai is strong, and spin has dictated this Asia Cup.
Pitch and Conditions
Dubai continues to favour spinners, though chasing has historically given teams an edge. Dew hasn’t been a major factor this time, unlike the 2021 T20 World Cup. Expect totals in the 130–150 range, with batters needing patience to find fluency.
Head-to-Head (T20Is)
- Matches: 14
- India wins: 10
- Pakistan wins: 3
- No result: 1
Key Stats & Records in Play
- Abhishek Sharma needs 2 sixes for 50 in T20Is.
- Suryakumar Yadav is 2 sixes away from 150 career T20I sixes.
- Hardik Pandya (96 wickets) is four away from 100 in T20Is.
- Shaheen Afridi is two wickets away from becoming Pakistan’s second-highest T20I wicket-taker.
- Sanju Samson requires 83 runs to reach 1000 T20I runs.
What They Said
“The toss hasn’t made much difference here. The wicket doesn’t change much, and dew isn’t like 2021.” – Suryakumar Yadav
“Our batting has been up and down, but if the top three bat longer, we can control the game.” – Haris Rauf
Verdict
India arrive as clear favourites — superior depth, balance, and form. But Pakistan’s bowling unit, spearheaded by Afridi and Rauf, has the tools to trouble them if their batters hold up. Throw in the spice of recent off-field drama, and Sunday night in Dubai promises nothing less than a blockbuster.
