As anticipation builds for the blockbuster Asia Cup clash between India and Pakistan, India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has hinted that the Men in Blue are unlikely to alter their playing XI.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday’s Group A showdown at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the former Netherlands all-rounder explained that conditions at the venue had offered little reason to shuffle the lineup that crushed the UAE earlier in the week.
“I don’t think we gleaned too much from that first game, and even the other matches at this venue haven’t given us much to work with. So, it’s unlikely we’ll make changes,” ten Doeschate said.
India’s balance in the middle order was a major talking point, with Doeschate praising the adaptability of players such as Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, and Hardik Pandya.
“From positions three to seven, we’re lucky to have players who can adapt to different situations. That flexibility is a big advantage when conditions are tricky,” he added.
India head into the clash as firm favourites, buoyed by their unbeaten streak at last year’s T20 World Cup and an impressive run since, losing just two T20Is in the past 12 months.
In their opening fixture, Jasprit Bumrah led the pace attack, while the spin-heavy combination of Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Abhishek Sharma proved decisive. Kuldeep, in particular, stole the show with a sensational 4/7 against UAE.
Pakistan, meanwhile, arrive confident after dispatching Oman in clinical fashion, with Shaheen Afridi leading a potent pace attack. Both sides now enter the contest on the back of convincing wins, raising the stakes for what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter.
Historically, India have dominated the rivalry in T20 internationals, winning 10 of their 13 clashes. Their last meeting came at the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York, where India edged past Pakistan in a low-scoring thriller.
With a packed house expected in Dubai, all eyes will be on whether India’s “unchanged XI” can keep their momentum rolling — or if Pakistan’s bowlers can spring a surprise on the world champions.
