Asia Cup 2025: India vs Pakistan Playing XI & Match Preview

India and Pakistan will lock horns in the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday, September 14, at the Dubai International Stadium in the third Group A clash. Both sides enter the game on the back of convincing wins and will be eager to carry that momentum forward.

India brushed aside UAE by 9 wickets in their opener, thanks to Kuldeep Yadav’s 4/7 and quick runs from Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. Pakistan began strongly too, hammering Oman by 93 runs, with Mohammad Haris starring with the bat and their spinners dominating.

This will be the first T20I meeting between the arch-rivals since the 2024 T20 World Cup, where India edged Pakistan by 6 runs in a thriller. The rivalry has tilted in India’s favor historically, with 9 wins in 13 encounters, while Pakistan have managed 3, with one tied match.

The buildup is unique this time as both teams are without some of their biggest names. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have retired from T20Is, while Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been absent from Pakistan’s squad since March.

India – Probable XI

Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill are likely to open, with Tilak Varma in red-hot form at No. 3. Captain Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, and Hardik Pandya strengthen the middle order. Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah round off a bowling attack that looks sharp and balanced. Abhishek, who loves taking on pace early, will be India’s key batter against Shaheen Afridi.

Pakistan – Probable XI

Pakistan will rely on Fakhar Zaman for batting stability, with Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, and captain Salman Agha still searching for form. Mohammad Haris’ aggressive 66 vs Oman makes him a crucial player in the top order. The bowling will be led by Shaheen Afridi, with spinners Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem expected to play a big role in Dubai’s conditions. Fakhar remains their most dependable batting threat.