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The Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 sees India and Pakistan face each other on Sunday, September 21. This is set to be the 2nd clash of the Super 4 stage. Earlier, both India and Pakistan made it to the Super 4 from Group A. India finished 1st with Pakistan taking 2nd place.

What is the Context of the IND vs PAK match?

The two teams met last Sunday in a Group A contest where India won by 7 wickets. It was their first meeting in the T20I format for the first time since the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 where India won by 6 runs..

Off field issues and controversies have governed the India vs Pakistan duels in this Asia Cup. It started with India’s handshake controversy to Pakistan opting out of the post-match captain comments. And then Pakistan asked the ICC to remove match referee Andy Pycroft before threatening to quit the tournament. Pakistan also avoided a pre-match press conference ahead of the Super 4 clash.

Pakistan and India come into this contest with wins over UAE and Oman respectively. India experimented against Oman and got a food game out of it.

Coming to this match, India could be without Axar Patel, who suffered a head injury in the match against Oman. If he is out, India may have to break free from a three-man spin show and get in Arshdeep Singh.

In terms of the H2H record, the two teams have met 14 times in T20Is. India have won 10 games to Pakistan’s 3 (Tied: 1).

The Pakistan cricket team has played 35 T20I matches to date here in Dubai. They have won 19 games and lost 15. One match has been tied, as per Sponne. On the other hand, India have featured in 11 matches here, winning 7 and losing 4.

The Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan will start at 8pm IST on September 21 at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.

India – Probable Playing XI

Abhishek Sharma: The southpaw can set the stage on fire with his exploits upfront. His strike rate of 198.12 is remarkable in T20Is. He has slammed three 30-plus scores from three matches in the 2025 Asia Cup.

Shubman Gill: After a decent start, he has fallen early in the two previous games. Gill would want to spend some time in the middle.

Suryakumar Yadav (c): The skipper will want to showcase his strengths at number three. In the match versus UAE, he scored a 2-ball 7*. He then managed an unbeaten 47 versus Pakistan. In the previous game, he didn’t bat.

Tilak Varma: The southpaw will likely come in at number 4. He scored a 31-run knock in his previous clash against Pakistan. Versus Oman, he did an able job.

Shivam dube: The southpaw is yet to fire with the bat in the two Asia Cup 2025 outings he has managed so far. This clash will be crucial for Dube.

Sanja Samson: After not getting a chance to bat versus UAE and Pakistan, Samson was handed a chance against Oman and he hit his 49th T20 fifty.

Pandya Hardik: A fierce player, Pandya is a key all-round star. India will field Pandya as the 3rd pace option. With 96 wickets, he is one shy of becoming the 2nd-highest wicket-taker for India.

Kuldeep Yadav: He has been at his best in this tournament. Against UAE, he took 4/7. He managed a three-fer next against Pakistan before taking one wicket against Oman.

Jasprit bumrah: The speedster will lead this Indian bowling attack. He has 92 T20I wickets under his belt from 72 matches. He was rested for the clash against Oman.

Varun chakravarthy: He is a champion T20 specialist. The right-arm spinner has bagged 35 scalps from 20 matches. His presence lifts this Indian side.

Arshdeep Singh: He became the first Indian to take 100 T20I scalps with his 1/37 versus Oman. He could replace Axar in the side.

Player to watch out for (Abhishek Sharma): The swashbuckling opener will aim to be aggressive from the start. He will fancy facing Shaheen Afridi and look to dominate.

Pakistan – Probable Playing XI

Saim Ayub: The opening batsman had a disappointing T20I tri-series before the Asia Cup, scoring 14, 69, 0, 11 and 17. He has followed it up with three successive ducks in this tourney. However, he has bowled well.

Sahibzada Farhan: Pakistan have a lot of hope from Farhan. He has played 23 matches so far, scoring a modest 450 runs with three fifties. His average of 19-plus is poor.

Fakhar zaman: The southpaw is Pakistan’s main bet in batting. He owns 2194 runs from 105 T20Is (97 innings) at 23-plus. Fakhar has belted 13 fifties.

Salman AGHA (C): The skipper will want to showcase his strengths in the middle order. He is yet to fire in this tournament.

Hassan Nawaz: He can take the game by his strengths. With an average of 25-plus and a neat strike rate of 167-plus, Hasan is key for the Men in Green.

Mohammad Nawaz: The spin all-rounder is a key customer in that middle order. Across 51 T20I innings, he has scored 661 runs at 17-plus. He also owns 71 wickets with the ball (74 matches).

Mohammad Haris (WK): Another key element of this Pakistan side, Haris can be used as a floater. He owns 511 runs from 31 matches.

Faheem Ashraf: At number 8, Pakistan get another all-rounder. Ashraf He has 486 runs from 47 innings with a strike rate of 134-plus. With the ball, he has picked 48 wickets from 64 matches.

Sheen Africa: The speedster will lead this Pakistan bowling attack. He has picked 111 wickets from 88 matches.

Sufiyan Muqeem: The spinner has 27 T20I wickets in 19 matches at an impressive 14.74. He is a key bowler.

ABRAR Ahmed: The spinner will be massive on this Dubai surface. In 19 games, Abrar owns 26 T20I wickets at 16.46.

Player to watch out for (Fakhar Zaman): The aggressive Fakhar got 4 scores of 20-plus in the T20I tri-series besides a fifty. He did well against Oman as well and then delivered against UAE.

Pitch Report & Venue Conditions

The matches here at the Asia Cup have witnessed teams go heavy with their spin artillery. The surface is expected to have a bit more assistance for spinners. Pacers will find joy early on with some movement on offer. Notably, spinners could purchase turns while bowling in the right areas. For batters, they will have to rotate the strike and handle spinners well in the middle overs.

Match Prediction – Who Has the Upper Hand?

Both teams have a solid bowling unit with a desired balance on offer. However, it’s the batting which makes India have the upper hand. They have a solid unit who can outshine Pakistan.

FAQs About IND vs PAK Playing 11

Who are the key players in the IND vs PAK clash?

Abhishek Sharma will aim to be aggressive from the start. He owns a strike rate worth 198-plus in T20Is. For Pakistan, Fakhar Zaman with his experience becomes a crucial asset.