Cricket fans, assemble! For the first time in 41 years of Asia Cup history, India and Pakistan will face off in a blockbuster final at the Dubai International Stadium on September 28, 2025. This final match is not just about the rivalry and politics; it’s about two fierce teams fighting to cement their place in the history of cricket, leaving behind a legacy for the generations to remember. Theoretically, India has everything under its control and appears to be on the stronger side, but realistically, the recent performances, dropped catches, and Pakistan’s winning streaks because of its strong bowling emerge as matters of severe concern for the team and its fans. 

India’s Batting Reliant on Sharma and Gill

The fate of India’s batting is closely tied to how their openers, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, perform on the match day. The duo has contributed substantially with their runs and dominated India’s top order. However, India’s heavy reliance on Sharma and Gill is no secret to Pakistan. The bowlers of Pakistan would try to create pressure on the middle order by at least dismissing one or, ideally, both openers. If Pakistan succeeds in breaking through the firewall of Sharma and Gill, then India’s skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya in the middle order will have to step up to mitigate the early damage.

Fielding Lapses Could Cost India Dearly

While Pakistan is often mocked for its loose fielding, India’s shortcomings in their fielding efforts in recent matches against Pakistan and Bangladesh cannot be left out of consideration. India’s fielding against Pakistan in the Super Four matches gave both fans and experts visible nightmares. T. Dilip, the fielding coach of India, schooled the players for dropping the four catches in a crucial match like Ind vs Pak. With Bangladesh, another four straightforward drops were forgiven and hardly forgotten, but this time a single drop of a catch will hold the immense potential to swing the game and the mood of fans in an entirely different direction.

Bowling Battle: Bumrah, Axar, Kuldeep, and Varun

The Indian team and fans will continue to believe in Jasprit Bumrah’s toe-crushing Yorkers to save the day against Pakistan. However, the inconsistencies from Bumrah in the Super Four will shift the responsibility to Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy to deliver a breakthrough in Pakistan’s batting order. On the other hand, if utilized correctly, Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist spin can turn out to be the trump card for India.

Pakistan Riding Momentum After Bangladesh Win

If form is the barometer, Pakistan is currently acing it. With its recent win over Bangladesh, Pakistan has clutched for the momentum and psychological confidence, which could benefit their game. Apart from which, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf are finding a rhythm in dismissing the top-order batsmen. With its previous matches with India, Pakistan’s batting line could be visibly seen struggling with the spinners. To tackle this challenge of Indian spinners, the batting line of Pakistan is seen practicing for left-arm and wrist spin, which could potentially put Patel and Yadav’s abilities to the test. 

Pakistan’s Batting Line: Vulnerable to Spin

Pakistan have’t just played with the ball and bat; they’ve tried their hand at playing mind games too. Earlier in the tournament, Afridi and Rauf tested Sharma’s patience with their short balls and prickling words. However, both Sharma and Team India responded well with their performance and words as and when needed. It can certainly be expected from Pakistan that they’ll again indulge in these mind games and bring sledging on the field. However, the team must maintain its composure, just like their skipper, and let their performance do all the talking. 

Dubai Conditions and Toss Could Be Crucial

Historically, the Dubai pitch and the Indian Cricket Team perform excellently well when they have a target to chase. Because of the dew in the second innings, the spinners usually have trouble finding their rhythm, whereas the fielders are more prone to fielding errors. Should Pakistan win the toss and opt to bowl first, India might find itself in a tight spot.

Apart from the uncertainty of whether India gets to bowl first, Sanju Samson’s spot in the batting lineup will also be another hot topic considering his changing position in the lineup throughout the tournament. This final will be a tale of rivalry and redemption. The rivals on and off the fields will carry the weight of their nations' expectations on their shoulders. India will strive to prove its consistency, address the criticism about its sloppy fielding, and shut down assumptions about its overreliance on a few players. On the other hand, Pakistan will be eager to determine whether this match converts into a win or yet another lesson to learn.