IND vs PAK, Asia Cup 2025: 3 Key Player Battles You Can’t Miss

India and Pakistan are meeting in a T20 International after more than 15 months, and a lot has changed in that time. Under Suryakumar Yadav, India has become a strong team, winning 85% of its matches since Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from T20 cricket. Pakistan, meanwhile, have shown a more aggressive side after the T20 World Cup in the USA, even though they lost to the host nation. Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan are no longer part of the team, but the new-look Pakistan squad under Salman Ali Agha is holding its own.

1. Shubman Gill vs Shaheen Afridi

It's the biggest match of the year. India is set to lock horns with Pakistan. In this massive game, there will be some interesting mini-battles to watch. Team India's prolific opener, Shubman Gill, has an exceptional record against left-arm seamers in T20Is and has been dismissed only twice in 14 innings.

Come Sunday, it will be intriguing to watch the key battle between Gill and Shaheen Afridi. Though Gill hasn't faced Afridi in T20Is yet, in the four ODI innings they have faced off, the left-arm seamer has dismissed him on two occasions, conceding at a strike rate of 170. While Afridi has the ability to pick up wickets regularly in his opening spells, this face-off is surely one to watch.

2. Fakhar Zaman vs Kuldeep Yadav

Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman has struggled against left-arm wrist spinners in the shortest format. Since 2022, in all T20s, Fakhar has been dismissed by left-arm wrist spinners 5 times in the 9 innings he has faced them. Fakhar is yet to face Kuldeep Yadav in T20 Internationals. However, in the 3 ODIs where they have gone head-to-head, he has been dismissed on all 3 occasions scoring just 29 runs off 33 balls.

3. Haris Rauf vs Suryakumar Yadav & Hardik Pandya

Pakistan's leading wicket-taker in T20 Internationals, Haris Rauf, has an exceptional record against Suryakumar Yadav, dismissing him twice in as many innings. Suryakumar managed just 11 runs off the 8 deliveries he faced against the Pakistani pacer.

Rauf also has a strong matchup against Hardik Pandya, having dismissed him twice in the 4 T20I innings they have faced off. Interestingly, 4 of Hardik’s dismissals have come in the last 5 overs, a phase in which Rauf has been particularly lethal.

So, how will these key battles play out in the biggest match of the year?

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