Few rivalries in the realm of sports can match the grandeur of the cricketing honour between India and Pakistan. When these two countries meet, it transcends the boundaries of sport and pride, and becomes a matter of legacy. The A-Cup 2025 Super Four clash will be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, September 21.
This is not the first time in this tournament that the two teams have come face to face. First, during the group stage, India defeated Pakistan by a score of 1-0. Now, the stakes are higher! Because this is the Super Four stage, where each team takes on the local Asia Cup final.
India have been nothing short of sensational in this year’s Asia Cup. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the Men in Blue have won all three of their matches so far.
Against Pakistan, they registered a convincing win.
Against Oman, they experimented with their lineup and still managed to secure a 21-run victory.
Their bench strength has been tested, and players like Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma have stepped up admirably.
The Indian team looks balanced, with all-rounders who provide depth, and a bowling attack that combines pace and spin.
Pakistan’s journey has been more turbulent. They started the Asia Cup with a brilliant 93-run win over Oman, which showed signs of their intent. However, they failed in their next match against India, where their batting collapsed under pressure.
They were forced to win against UAE, but kept their campaign alive by rising to the challenge with a 41-run win. Now, facing India again in the Super Four, Pakistan will surely avenge their previous defeat.
Match: India vs Pakistan, Super Four, Asia Cup 2025
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Date & Time: Sunday, September 21, 8:00 PM IST
Broadcast: Sony Sports Network, SonyLIV, YuppTV
The Dubai surface has been slow and sluggish throughout the tournament. Out of the five matches played so far, three have been won by teams batting second.
Average first-innings score: 128
Highest total: 160/7 (Pakistan vs Oman)
Nature of pitch: Slow, aiding spinners and cutters from pacers.
Key strategy: Batting won’t be easy, so teams will look to preserve wickets and accelerate in the back end. Winning the toss and chasing could be advantageous.
India’s dominance in Asia Cup contests against Pakistan has been emphatic, and they’ll look to extend this record further.
Matches Played |
14 |
Won By IND |
11 |
Won By PAK |
03 |
First-ever Fixture |
September 14, 2007 |
Most recent Fixture |
September 14, 2025 |
Abhishek Sharma
Shubman Gill
Suryakumar Yadav (C)
Tilak Varma
Sanju Samson (WK)
Shivam Dube
Hardik Pandy
Axar Patel/Arshdeep Singh
Kuldeep Yadav
Jasprit Bumrah
Varun Chakaravarthy.
Sahibzada Farhan
Saim Ayub
Mohammad Haris (WK)
Fakhar Zaman
Salman Ali Agha (C)
Hasan Nawaz
Mohammad Nawaz
Khushdil Shah
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Haris Rauf
Abrar Ahmed.
The left-handed opener is the best batsman in the tournament. He has given India a strong start every time, scoring 99 runs at an average of 225 in three innings. His ability to deal with the powerplay bowlers has been crucial in neutralising Pakistan’s passing attack.
Kuldeep has been India’s most popular spinner, taking 8 wickets in three matches at an average of just 6. Against Pakistan in the group stage, he won the Player of the Match award, turning the nets around his middle order. On the slow pitch in Dubai, he will once again be India’s trump card.
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Abhishek Sharma vs Shaheen Shah Afridi: A fiery left-arm pacer against a fearless young opener. This contest could set the tone.
Fakhar Zaman vs Jasprit Bumrah: Fakhar, known for his attacking instincts, will be tested by Bumrah’s variations.
Kuldeep Yadav vs Pakistan’s middle order: Kuldeep’s accuracy and turn could strangle Pakistan in the middle overs.
This match between India and Pakistan promises to be an excellent encounter. That is why many prediction experts are slightly biased towards India, as the statistics themselves say. India’s depth in batting, led by in-form stars like Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, along with Suryakumar Yadav’s finishing, gives them a great edge. Their bowling unit consists of Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav, who have always performed even under pressure. However, Pakistan cannot be underestimated either, with Babar Azam in their batting lineup and Shaheen Afridi as the bowler.
Yet there can only be one winner! And with India’s recent head-to-head dominance in T20s and balanced team strength, it is not wrong to say that India has a better chance of winning.
(Predicted) Winner: It is India who have their own bombshell team.
This is a crucial moment in the Asia Cup Super Four stage. India will be looking to maintain their unbeaten streak, while Pakistan need a win to stay alive in the tournament.
India are mentally ahead, but when Pakistan is cornered, they are capable of producing brilliant moments. Fans can expect drama, pressure-packed encounters and perhaps another iconic moment in cricketing folklore between India and Pakistan.
As preparations for another thrilling encounter in Dubai get underway, fans around the world are gearing up to watch a competition that could decide the fate of the Asia Cup 2025. Be it Abhishek Sharma’s stroke play or Shaheen Afridi’s fiery magic, one thing is certain: this India-Pakistan clash will be fiery.
The Super Four stage is very important as it decides which teams qualify for the final. Considering the rivalry between India and Pakistan, this match carries a lot of pressure off the cricket field as well. For Pakistan, a win is very important to stay in the race, while India will try to assert their dominance by remaining unbeaten.
For India, Abhishek Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav have been in great form. Sharma has given an explosive start, while Kuldeep has not been able to play with his spin. For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman are players who can turn the game in their favour if they perform on the big stage.
The pitch at the Dubai International Stadium is slow and spin-friendly, making it difficult to play strokes. With the spin power of Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, India are better suited to exploit such conditions. However, Pakistan have a strong pace battery led by Shaheen and Haris Rauf, who will rely on cutters and variations to adapt. Batting first can be difficult, so chasing may be the preferred strategy.
India has historically dominated Pakistan in the Asia Cup encounter. Out of the 14 matches played between them, India has won 11, while Pakistan has won only 3. This record shows the consistency and ability to withstand pressure in the India-Pakistan encounter. However, Pakistan has created upsets in the past and has been a dangerous opponent.
Yes, very much. India are already looking strong and invincible, so a win against Pakistan would almost ensure their place in the final. For Pakistan, losing this match could seriously reduce their chances of qualifying. Given the competitive nature of the Super Four stage, every win is important, which makes this game almost a semi-final in its importance.