The highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 final between cricketing giants India and Pakistan is set to take place on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. All eyes are on the pitch, as tournament officials have announced that the same playing surface from their previous clash will be used for this epic finale, adding an intriguing element to the high-stakes match.
During their last Super Four encounter on this very pitch, Pakistan batted first and managed a respectable 171 for 5, with opener Sahibzada Farhan contributing a solid 58 runs off 45 balls. However, India made light work of the chase, securing a dominant six-wicket victory with seven balls to spare. Their opening duo, Abhishek Sharma (74 off 39) and Shubman Gill (47 off 28), set the stage with a blistering 105-run partnership within the first ten overs, completely dismantling Pakistan’s total. Tilak Varma (30 not out off 19) then calmly guided India to the finish line, emphasizing their superior performance.
As the identical pitch is readied for the final, a crucial question hangs in the air: will we see a replay of India’s previous triumph? The surface has consistently proven to be a batter’s paradise, offering little assistance to bowlers. India’s formidable top-order batsmen will undoubtedly be keen to exploit these conditions once more.
However, this final transcends mere cricketing rivalry. India marches into the final undefeated, boasting an impressive six consecutive wins. In stark contrast, Pakistan’s journey has been less smooth, having only just secured their spot after a hard-fought victory against Bangladesh.
Beyond the boundary ropes, tensions have been palpable, fueled by controversies like India’s ‘No Handshake Policy’ and Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf’s provocative actions, both of which led to ICC sanctions. Further inflaming the atmosphere, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as PCB and ACC chief, has added to the drama with his cryptic social media comments.