The stage is set for yet another high-voltage clash as India and Pakistan lock horns in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. A week ago, India humbled Pakistan with a convincing seven-wicket win at the same venue, but Super Four is a fresh start — and both teams know there’s no room for slip-ups.
Pitch Report – Dubai International Stadium
The Dubai surface has traditionally been slow and sluggish, making stroke play a challenge. Batters have struggled to find fluency, with an average first-innings score of just 135 in this tournament.
- Spinners are expected to dominate again, having taken the majority of wickets here so far.
- Pacers who rely on variations could also find success on this pitch.
- A high-scoring thriller looks unlikely, with totals around 130-150 expected to be competitive.
One key talking point: Dubai hasn’t seen a 200-plus total in the last three years — a reminder of how difficult it is to bat freely under these conditions.
Weather Forecast – Dubai
The heat in Dubai has already tested players across the Asia Cup 2025, and Sunday will be no different. The temperature during match hours is expected to stay between 35°C and 36°C.
- Dew could play a significant role in the second innings, making it tougher for bowlers to grip the ball.
- However, with teams batting first generally struggling to post big totals, captains will have a tricky decision at the toss.
India – Team Update
India enter this contest unbeaten in the tournament, having experimented in their last outing against Oman. Expect the return of Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy, who were rested previously.
Probable XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav.
Pakistan – Team Update
Pakistan, on the other hand, still look unsettled with their batting. Captain Salman Agha has stressed the importance of top-order contributions, while Shaheen Afridi remains their X-factor with the ball.
Probable XI:
Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris (wk), Salman Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Faheem Ashraf, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf.
Head-to-Head & Key Players
- India lead 11-3 in T20Is against Pakistan.
- Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma will be crucial for India’s batting approach.
- Shaheen Afridi vs Abhishek Sharma promises to be a fiery mini-battle at the top.
- Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy could thrive on this slow surface.
- For Pakistan, Fakhar Zaman and Haris Rauf need to step up in this crunch game.
Verdict
Expect another tense contest in Dubai. India arrive as clear favourites, but Pakistan will look to draw confidence from the conditions and their bowling attack. The sluggish pitch and heavy dew could make this a battle of patience rather than power-hitting.
