The stage is set for a monumental showdown as India take on Pakistan in the final of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, September 28. This contest is not only about continental supremacy but also about making history, as it will be the first-ever India vs Pakistan final in the history of the Asia Cup.
India’s dominant run in Asia Cup 2025
India have looked invincible throughout the tournament, winning all their matches to reach the final. Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, the Men in Blue have displayed remarkable depth in batting and variety in bowling. From the explosive opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill to the calmness of Sanju Samson in crunch moments, India’s batting has covered all bases.
Bowling remains India’s strongest weapon, with Jasprit Bumrah leading the pace attack alongside Arshdeep Singh. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy have consistently troubled opposition batters with their spin. However, India’s biggest concern lies with Hardik Pandya’s fitness, who left the field after bowling just one over in the clash against Sri Lanka. While Abhishek’s minor issue has been cleared by bowling coach Morne Morkel, Pandya’s role as an all-rounder will be crucial in balancing the XI.
Pakistan’s rocky road to the final
Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, had an up-and-down journey to the final. They lost both of their previous encounters against India in this tournament, which adds extra pressure heading into the decider. However, Pakistan have shown resilience, with their bowling attack often coming to the rescue.
The opening pair of Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman will hold the key at the top, while the aggressive Saim Ayub and wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris bring firepower in the middle order. Pakistan’s bowling, spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, will once again be their biggest strength. The likes of Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz will look to exploit spin-friendly conditions in Dubai, while Faheem Ashraf’s all-round ability provides balance.
IND vs PAK, Asia Cup 2025 Final: Match Details
- Date and Time: September 28, 8:00 pm IST / 02:30 pm GMT / 06:30 pm local
- Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
IND vs PAK Head-to-Head Record in T20Is
Matches played: 15 | India won: 12 | Pakistan won: 3 | No result: 0
Dubai International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium is known for providing a balanced contest between bat and ball. Early in the match, the pitch offers consistent bounce and true carry, allowing batters to play their shots freely. Fast bowlers can generate some seam movement with the new ball, but precision and disciplined line and length are essential to make an impact. As the game progresses, the surface tends to slow down slightly, giving spinners a significant role in controlling the middle overs. Day-night matches often bring in dew, which makes the outfield slick and the ball harder to grip, generally benefiting the chasing team. Consequently, captains frequently opt to bowl first to exploit these conditions. This season, the majority of matches at Dubai have been won by sides batting second, highlighting the advantage of chasing under lights.
Squads:
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Salman Mirza, Sufiyan Muqeem, Khushdil Shah, Hasan Nawaz
IND vs PAK, Today’s match prediction:
Case 1:
- India wins the toss and field first
- PAK powerplay score: 40-50
- PAK overall score: 160-170
Case 2:
- Pakistan wins the toss and field first
- IND powerplay score: 50-60
- IND overall score: 190-200
Match result: India to win the game.
