🏏T20 Asia Cup 2025: Match 19 - Final: India vs Pakistan @Dubai🏏

🏏T20 Asia Cup 2025: Match 19 - Final: India vs Pakistan @Dubai on 28/09/2025 at 8PM IST🏏

An India-Pakistan final that carries more weight than a title

India have beaten Pakistan twice already in this Asia Cup, but Sunday's final is the only match that matters now

Finally, an India-Pakistan Asia Cup final

Forty one years have passed since the first Asia Cup in 1984, and India and Pakistan have finally made it to the summit clash together. They have played each other twice along the way, with India winning both contests comfortably, but the cricket has been overshadowed by a lack of handshakes, angry verbals, and provocative gestures that are rooted in the military conflict between the two nations earlier this year.

It's clear Sunday's final isn't just another India vs Pakistan match. There are massive political undercurrents both sets of players have had to wade through which has created plenty of controversy. India sticking by their government's advice and refusing to shake hands with Pakistan was the start, and it has snowballed into multiple ICC hearings and financial penalties on both sides.

But even two commanding wins in the run to the final will amount to nothing if Suryakumar Yadav's men lose on Sunday. Especially after he said that he felt this wasn't even a rivalry anymore, given the recent lopsidedness of results in India's favour. That's likely to bring a different kind of pressure.

When: Sep 28, 06:30 PM LOCAL / 08:00 PM LOCAL

Where: Dubai International Stadium

What to expect: Two pitches at the centre of the square have been prepared. One is the surface used for the two previous India-Pakistan matches, the other is fresh and could produce the kind of high-scoring affair seen in India's game against Sri Lanka. Toss has not been decisive in Dubai; in 10 matches so far, wins are evenly split 5-5 between teams batting first and chasing, including Friday's tied finish. The average first-innings total is 148.

Teams Watch

India

Injuries/unavailability: Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma cramped up during the Sri Lanka match and were off the field for long spells. Abhishek and Tilak are expected to be fit. Hardik's status is less certain and a decision is expected to be made closer to the match.

Tactics and matchups: If Pandya is not fit, India will struggle to replace him. Playing Arshdeep Singh, who won India the Super Over against Sri Lanka, makes a lot of sense but it will come at the cost of batting depth, which India can make up for by playing only one legspinner. Whether they will, after the spin twins helped India tie the game against Sri Lanka, is anybody's guess. But the selections and combinations might have a knock-on effect. Can Abhishek Sharma, who's scored 35% of India's runs in this tournament, swing as hard if the batting depth runs thin? That could be Pakistan's chance.

Probable XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya/Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Pakistan

Injuries/unavailability: Everybody is available for selection.

Tactics and matchups: Pakistan are likely to go in unchanged, having stumbled upon their most balanced XI late in the tournament. The bowling lineup would target early wickets after Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill stole the show with their century stand last time around. Gill, of the two, looks the more vulnerable at the moment; both his dismissals to pace in this series have come to full-length balls seaming in. In the middle order, Haris Rauf to Suryakumar Yadav would make for an interesting battle, the out-of-form India captain having gotten out to Rauf three out of three times in T20Is.

Probable XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

In the spotlight: Shubman Gill and Abrar Ahmed

Shubman Gill has a highest of 47 in five completed innings at this Asia Cup. While there's nothing to suggest an apparent lack of form, Gill's manner of dismissals on a couple of occasions were like echoes of old habits. Against Oman, he was beaten and bowled by late inswing from left-arm seamer Shah Faisal. Against Pakistan in their second outing, Faheem Ashraf got one to duck back in to beat the inside edge. Gill's looked sparkling in every innings, and has fed off Abhishek's fast starts. Yet, that one defining knock in this tournament has remained elusive.

Abrar Ahmed has an economy rate of 5.02 this Asia Cup. No other bowler (minimum eight overs) has gone at less than six. His two games against India was a story of contrasts - he conceded just 16 on the first Sunday, but 42 - nearly 37% of his conceded runs all tournament - the second time around. With India getting off to good starts all tournament, Pakistan will turn to Abrar to reel them in, either immediately following the Powerplay, and perhaps even during it.

Pitch and conditions: An eye on the dew

It's like autumn in Dubai, they say. That means it's only marginally less hot than summer. Night-time temperatures are a searing 36 degrees celsius. End September-early October can also mark the onset of dew, which hasn't been a major factor yet in this Asia Cup. Teams have also mostly been training away from the main ground in Dubai - on an outfield that is a mix of astroturf and grass - so it becomes that little bit harder to assess when the dew comes in and what impact it can have on the match. As for the pitch, a fresh surface will be used for the final, the one at the very centre of the Dubai International Stadium, where the average first-innings score in all T20s over the last five years is 156 - pointing to spin being a major factor again.

Stats and trivia: Can Abhishek go past Kohli?

• On Friday, Abhishek became the fourth Indian, after Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar, to score a hat-trick of half-centuries in T20Is. Can he become the first to score four consecutive fifties?
• In two of the last four Asia Cups (2016 in T20Is and 2018 in ODIs), India have finished the tournament unbeaten. They have now entered the final on the back of six straight wins.
• Arshdeep Singh became the first Indian to 100 T20I wickets earlier in the competition. On Sunday, Hardik could join him in the club - he needs two more.
• Against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, Abrar delivered the most economical four-over spell by a spinner in Asia Cup history, with figures of 4-0-8-1. UAE's Ahmed Raza produced 3-0-6-1 in 2016
• Haris Rauf, who wasn't a certainty in the first XI early on in the competition, has surged to become the joint-top wicket-taker (with Wanindu Hasaraga) in Asia Cup T20s. He has 17 wickets in 10 games at an economy of 7.73.

IND vs PAK Head to Head Record in T20Is

Matches Played 15

IND Won 11

PAK Won 03

Tied 01

First-ever Fixture September 14, 2007 (Tied; IND won via Bowl Out)

Most-recent Fixture September 21, 2025 (IND Won)

IND vs PAK Probable Top Performers

Probable Best Batter: Abhishek Sharma

Indian opener Abhishek Sharma could be the key batter in this high-voltage final. He has amassed 309 runs in six innings at an impressive average of 51.50, including three consecutive half-centuries that laid the foundation for India’s dominant run in the tournament. With a staggering strike rate of 204.63, Abhishek has showcased both aggression and authority at the top, often putting the opposition on the back foot right from the start.

Probable Best Bowler: Kuldeep Yadav

The left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav could prove to be the key bowler for India in the final. He has already picked up 13 wickets at an impressive average of 9.84, consistently applying pressure in the middle overs and preventing opposition batters from scoring freely. His four-over spell will be crucial in determining how well Pakistan’s batting unit can build momentum while minimizing the risk of losing wickets.

Today's Match Prediction: India to win the match

Scenario 1

• India win the toss and opt to bowl first
• Powerplay: 35-45
• PAK: 150-160
• India win the match

Scenario 2

• Pakistan win the toss and opt to bowl first
• Powerplay: 45-55
• IND: 160-170
• India win the match

Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.