India Vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025: The high-voltage cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan will reignite this Sunday as the two sides meet in the T20 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Defending champions India began their campaign in style, cruising to a nine-wicket win over hosts United Arab Emirates. Pakistan, too, started strong, registering a commanding 93-run victory against Oman.
Here’s a look at the pitch and weather conditions ahead of the blockbuster clash.
The Dubai International Stadium pitch usually provides a fair battle between bat and ball. Pacers can expect some bounce and movement early on, while spinners are likely to come into play as the surface slows down later in the game.
The venue has witnessed average scores of 139 in the first innings and 121 in the second. Of the 112 T20Is played here, chasing sides have had a slight edge with 59 wins, compared to 52 victories for teams batting first.
According to AccuWeather, the temperature in Dubai is expected to reach 40°C on September 14, with a “RealFeel" of 45°C owing to humidity, wind, and strong sunshine.
Air quality is likely to remain in the “Unhealthy" category, while humidity levels are expected to hover around 38%.
Both teams started their tournament on a strong note. While India defeated the UAE by 9 wickets, Pakistan beat Oman by 93 runs.
Though traditionally celebrated for their pace bowling, Pakistan have pivoted to a spin-heavy strategy to suit the UAE’s conditions. Acknowledging the spin-friendly pitches, head coach Mike Hesson has chosen to focus on a bowling line-up dominated by spinners for this tournament.
Meanwhile, India boasts a star-studded line-up in both the batting and bowling departments. Top players in the squad include captain Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav.
India Predicted XI: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson (Wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav.
Pakistan Predicted XI: Salman Agha (C), Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris (Wk), Hasan Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem.
Source: News18