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India vs Pakistan face off in the Asia Cup final amidst high tensions, with ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah all set to return.
India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in the summit showdown of the Asia Cup, with a lot at stake, as the two neighbouring nations have been at each other’s throats for the past five months. A terror attack and a retaliation later, players from the two nations have decided not to shake hands and three of them have also undergone trials by the International Cricket Council over complaints made by their cricket boards.
It started with India’s ‘No Handshake Policy’ in the opening clash, with captain Suryakumar Yadav turning away at the toss and post-match.
Pakistan’s pacer Haris Rauf responded with taunts, abuses and even an aircraft-crash gesture, igniting a storm that brought both under ICC scrutiny and 30% fines.
But geopolitical and on-field tensions outside, the question is over Asian supremacy. Although India have entered the finals unbeaten, while resting their ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah for two games now, he will surely return for the big final.
The likes of Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma, who have warmed the bench in all six games till now, will continue to do the same, while Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, who played against Sri Lanka, are expected to be back on the bench.
The Indian team management will also bring back Shivam Dube for the final, who has been more effective with the ball than the bat.
What needs to be seen is Hardik Pandya’s availability for the big clash. The star Indian allrounder suffered some cramps during the Sri Lanka and was out on the bench during the entire second innings.
India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel has said that Pandya will be assessed on Saturday, September 27 and no reports have been out yet on his availability. In case he isn’t available for the big game, Arshdeep might be included in the XI, but it would deal a big blow to India’s batting.
India’s likely playing XI for final against Pakistan: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy
September 27, 2025, 15:58 IST
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