DUBAI: Indian Captain Suryakumar Yadav has won the toss and chose to bowl first in the Asia Cup 2025 final against archrivals Pakistan, here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
India is without Hardik Pandya who got injured in the previous encounter against Sri Lanka. He has been replaced with young all rounder Rinku Singh. Earlier, both captain in the middle stood side by side with the unveiled trophy but refused to shake hands.
This showdown carries political undertones and emotional intensity, with the build-up marred by off-field drama, including India refusing to shake hands with Pakistan on political grounds and both teams facing ICC hearings and financial penalties.
Despite the noise, over 28,000 fans are expected to pack the stadium to witness this historic clash, the first-ever Asia Cup final between the two cricketing powerhouses.
High Stakes and Heated Rivalry
India have dominated recent contests, winning 12 of their last 15 T20Is against Pakistan, and coming into this final on the back of five consecutive wins in the tournament.
But captain Suryakumar Yadav’s comment that this “isn’t even a rivalry anymore” has added fuel to the fire, and ramped up pressure on his side to back those words with silverware.
Pakistan, led by Salman Agha, are desperate for a turnaround in their cricketing fortunes. A win today could heal the wounds of a mixed tournament and a broader history of underachievement in the Asia Cup, they have won just two titles, compared to India’s eight.
Key Players to Watch
Shubman Gill (India): Flashy starts but no big scores, can he deliver when it counts?
Abrar Ahmed (Pakistan): The most economical bowler in the tournament so far, but his previous match against India was expensive. Can he bounce back?
Team News & Changes
India’s Playing XI
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah and Shivam Dube return to the XI after being rested.
Pakistan’s Playing XI
Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Agha (capt), Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Haris (wk), Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
Conditions & Pitch Report
Temperature: 36°C at night – hot and humid.
Dew factor: Could play a role in the second innings.
Pitch: The central strip will be used, a balanced surface with an average first-innings score of 156 in T20s here. Spin is expected to play a key role.
