India Vs Pakistan: New Faces, Same Old Fire In Asia Cup 2025

India Favorites, Pakistan Rebuilding

India enters this contest as the firm favorites. Under Suryakumar Yadav's leadership, their squad manages to blend new talent with experience. They’ve started strongly in this Asia Cup and carry momentum from their recent T20 performances. In contrast, Pakistan is in a rebuilding phase—youth now anchored by discipline—but consistency will be their biggest test.

Changing of the Guard

This contest will be played without some of its iconic figures for the first time in many years. India now continues without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have outgrown T20Is. In the meantime, Pakistan will lose Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Such absences don’t diminish the drama — they shift the spotlight onto new leaders eager to write their own chapters.

Head-to-Head & History

Though much has changed, stats still whisper reminders of the past. India has the upper hand in Asia Cup history and overall T20Is vs Pakistan. Out of 19 Asia Cup meetings, India have won 10; in T20Is, they’ve taken 10 of 13 clashes. But Pakistan has claimed its share and often shown fight, especially on Dubai pitches. They know this match isn’t just about stats—it’s about proving what their new team can do.

What This Match Means

It is not merely a match; it is a statement. In India, it is keeping the dominance, in Pakistan, it is gaining respect, demonstrating growth, and making history without the old guard. The audience, the intensity, and the competition will all be exaggerated. These performance venues might make careers, create legends, or reveal cracks.

Squads

India: 

Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (wk).

Pakistan: 

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.