India vs Pakistan, Final Match Asia Cup 2025

India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya / Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (C), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

📌 These are probable XIs and may change depending on pitch conditions, team strategy, and player fitness.

The Dubai International Cricket Stadium offers a balanced T20 surface, assisting both batters and bowlers. With the new ball under lights, pacers like Jasprit Bumrah and Shaheen Afridi can extract bounce and swing, making the powerplay a crucial phase. As the game progresses, the pitch slows down, bringing spinners such as Kuldeep Yadav and Abrar Ahmed into play with grip and variations in the middle overs.

Batting usually becomes easier in the second innings due to the dew factor, which skews the conditions in favor of the chasing team. To stay competitive, sides batting first generally need to post 165+ runs.

• Average 1st Innings Score (T20Is): 155–165 runs
• Pitch Nature: Balanced – early swing for pacers, grip for spinners later
• Pace vs Spin: Pacers dominate early and at the death; spinners effective in the middle overs
• Weather: Hot and dry 🌤 around 33–35°C with clear skies. No rain expected. Dew likely in the evening.

📌 Toss Impact: Teams usually prefer bowling first in Dubai, exploiting early movement and banking on easier batting conditions later with dew on the outfield.

🔑 Key Player Matchups

• Shubman Gill vs Shaheen Afridi – Gill’s composure and timing at the top will be tested by Shaheen’s lethal swing with the new ball. A couple of early wickets for Shaheen could tilt momentum Pakistan’s way.
• Suryakumar Yadav vs Abrar Ahmed – India’s skipper thrives on spin, but Abrar’s mystery variations in the middle overs could be the ultimate test. This matchup could decide India’s middle-over momentum.
• Fakhar Zaman vs Jasprit Bumrah – Fakhar’s fearless hitting will face Bumrah’s pinpoint yorkers and variations at the death. A high-stakes duel in crunch moments.
• Salman Agha vs Kuldeep Yadav – Pakistan’s captain will need to handle Kuldeep’s turn and bounce in the middle overs to avoid a collapse.

🌟 Impact Players

India (IND):

• Shubman Gill – Reliable top-order batter who can anchor and accelerate, vital in a high-pressure chase.
• Suryakumar Yadav – Explosive leader, capable of shifting gears and changing the match within a few overs.
• Jasprit Bumrah – Big-match specialist; his death-over mastery makes him India’s biggest weapon.

Pakistan (PAK):

• Fakhar Zaman – Aggressive opener; if he fires in the powerplay, Pakistan’s scoring rate can soar.
• Shaheen Afridi – The x-factor pacer who can remove India’s top order early.
• Abrar Ahmed – Mystery spinner whose middle-over spells can strangle India’s batting flow.

📌 Must-Have Picks:

• Shubman Gill (IND): Reliable opener; can anchor India’s innings and accelerate in middle overs.
• Suryakumar Yadav (IND): Explosive skipper; ideal for quick runs and game-changing shots in Dubai conditions.
• Jasprit Bumrah (IND): Death-over specialist; wicket-taker in powerplay and at the death.
• Kuldeep Yadav (IND): Spin variation can control middle overs and pick crucial wickets.
• Fakhar Zaman (PAK): Aggressive opener; can score quick runs in the powerplay and set the tone.
• Shaheen Shah Afridi (PAK): Strike bowler; big threat in early overs and at the death.
• Abrar Ahmed (PAK): Mystery spinner; can break partnerships and control the middle overs.

👑 Captaincy Choices:

• Captain: Shubman Gill / Fakhar Zaman
• Vice-Captain: Suryakumar Yadav / Shaheen Afridi

📌 Tips Based on Dubai Conditions:

• The dew factor favors chasing teams, so top-order batters like Gill and Fakhar gain extra fantasy value if batting second.
• Spinners like Kuldeep and Abrar can dominate middle overs; include at least one wrist-spinner in fantasy squads.
• All-rounders such as Hardik Pandya and Mohammad Nawaz provide balance and can contribute points with bat, ball, and fielding.
• In grand leagues, picking a bowler captain (Bumrah or Shaheen) could be a differential if early swing/death conditions favor them.