Having already defeated Pakistan twice in this tournament, India will be looking to continue their winning streak and take home the trophy.
India and Pakistan are ready to meet once again, this time in the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai. Remarkably, this will be the first time in the 41-year history of the tournament that these two arch-rivals face each other in the title clash.
As for the news from the match centre, India have won the toss and chosen to field first.
India, under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, have won all six of their matches so far. Their last game against Sri Lanka was very close and went to a Super Over, but India managed to win. Having already defeated Pakistan twice in this tournament, they will be looking to do it again and take home the trophy.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s journey has been tough. They had to work hard to qualify from the group stage and again in the Super Fours. Both of their losses in the tournament came against India. Their last Super Four match against Bangladesh was also a real test, as Bangladesh came close to pulling off an upset, but Pakistan managed to hold on for an 11-run win to book their spot in the final.
India are expected to make some changes in the mix as Hardik Pandya faced a niggle during the last match. Moreover, the Men in Blue will include Jasprit Bumrah.
Shivam Dube and Jasprit Bumrah, who were rested in the previous game, are set to return for the final. This means Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh will have to make way.
IND Likely Playing 11: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Varun Chakaravarthy.
Openers: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill
No.3: Suryakumar Yadav
Middle-order: Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel
Lower-order: Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy
In India’s last clash against Sri Lanka, the star all-rounder had left the ground in the second innings. He bowled the opening over, while conceding seven runs and dismissed Kusal Mendis for a duck. However, he did not return to complete his quota of four overs or to field for the rest of the match.
Later, bowling coach Morne Morkel shared an update on Hardik’s cramps. With just one day between the two matches, the 31-year-old wouldn’t have recovered in time to play another full match.
Overall, Hardik has taken four wickets in this multi-national tournament. With the willow, he has made 48 runs with the limited opportunities he got to bat, which includes an unfateful run-out at the non-striker’s end.
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Pakistan have no injury worries and are likely to go with the same team that played in their previous match.
PAK Likely Playing 11: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Abrar Ahmed.
Openers: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman
No.3: Saim Ayub
Middle-order: Salman Agha (c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz
Lower-order: Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
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