For cricket fans worldwide, the wait is over. India and Pakistan are all set to clash in the first-ever Asia Cup final between the arch-rivals at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 28. With high stakes, rich history, and immense rivalry, this match promises fireworks both on and off the field.
India’s unbeaten form in Asia Cup
India have been dominant throughout the tournament, winning every game and showcasing a strong combination of experienced campaigners and explosive young talent. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India boast a formidable batting lineup with Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma providing stability at the top, Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson offering flair in the middle, and finishers like Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube to accelerate in the final overs.
Their bowling unit is equally threatening. Jasprit Bumrah leads the pace attack alongside Arshdeep Singh, while spin options Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy have consistently troubled opposition batters. India’s only concern is Hardik’s fitness, as he had to leave the field in the previous match due to cramps.
Pakistan’s major challenge
Pakistan, captained by Salman Ali Agha, face a tough challenge, having lost both encounters against India earlier in the tournament. Their batting lineup features a mix of aggression and experience, with Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan opening, Saim Ayub anchoring the innings, and Mohammad Haris providing finishing power. Though, Saim is going through a rough patch, having scored 4 ducks in the tournament. Pakistan fans will be expecting high from the youngster for the upcoming summit clash.
The bowling attack, spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, will look to make early breakthroughs, while spin options like Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz could play a key role in the middle overs. Pakistan will rely on a disciplined all-round effort to overcome India’s unbeaten streak.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report:
The Dubai pitch offers a fair contest for both batters and bowlers. Early on, batters enjoy true bounce, while fast bowlers can extract some movement with the new ball. As the match progresses, the surface slows slightly, giving spinners an opportunity to dominate the middle overs. The evening matches often bring dew, making the ball skid and favouring teams chasing totals. In this tournament, most victories at Dubai have come while batting second, suggesting a slight advantage for the chasing side.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium T20I Stats and Records:
- Total matches: 120
- Matches won batting first: 55
- Matches won bowling first: 63
- Average 1st innings score:140
- Average 2nd innings score: 123
- Highest total recorded: 212/2 (20 Ov) by India vs Afghanistan
- Lowest total recorded: 55/10 (14.2 Ov) by West Indies vs England
- Highest score chased: 184/8 (19.2 Ov) by Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh
- Lowest score defended: 98/5 (20 Ov) by Nambia Women vs UAE Women
