Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan vs India Lineups, Live Scores & Head-to-Head Records

Cricket’s most famous rivalry is ready to write another chapter as Pakistan and India face each other in the 2025 Asia Cup. Whenever these two teams meet, it is never just a cricket match—it becomes a battle of pride, passion, and history. Millions of fans around the world stop everything to watch, and tonight in Dubai, the excitement will be no different.

The match will take place at the Dubai International Stadium, a ground that has seen many unforgettable encounters between the two nations. But this time, the clash feels different. For the first time in more than ten years, some of the biggest names of modern cricket—Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan—will not be part of the playing eleven. These legendary players have stepped aside, making room for a new generation of cricketers. This gives the young stars a golden opportunity to prove themselves and make their mark in the biggest rivalry in cricket. With the legends now watching from the sidelines, all eyes will be on the fresh talent stepping up to carry the legacy forward.

Form Guide

Both Pakistan and India enter this contest in great form. Their records in the past five matches are identical—four wins and one loss each. The Asia Cup has also started on a strong note for both sides. India opened their campaign in Group A with a crushing victory over the United Arab Emirates, sending a strong message to their rivals. Pakistan replied in style with a dominant win over Oman, showing that they are equally prepared for the challenge.

The net run rates of both teams are healthy, which means that the winner of tonight’s high-voltage clash will almost certainly book a place in the next stage of the tournament. It’s not just about bragging rights—it’s about progress in the Asia Cup.

Pakistan vs India in Asia Cup History

When it comes to Asia Cup history, India has had the upper hand over Pakistan. Out of 18 encounters in both ODI and T20I formats combined, India has won 10 matches, while Pakistan has managed six victories. Two matches ended without a result.

In T20I matches within the Asia Cup specifically, India again holds the advantage, winning two games compared to Pakistan’s single victory. These numbers may seem small, but in such high-pressure matches, every statistic adds weight to the rivalry.

Head-to-Head Record in Asia Cup (ODI + T20I):

• Matches Played: 18
• India Wins: 10
• Pakistan Wins: 6
• Tied/No Result: 2

T20I Asia Cup Only:

• Matches Played: 3
• India Wins: 2
• Pakistan Wins: 1

Overall T20I Head-to-Head

Outside of the Asia Cup, the numbers are even more in India’s favor. Pakistan and India have played 13 T20 internationals before tonight’s game, with India winning 10 of them. Pakistan has only won three, and interestingly, all of Pakistan’s victories have come while chasing.

This makes the toss extremely crucial. Whoever bats second may carry a psychological advantage, especially in Dubai, where chasing has often proved successful.

T20I Head-to-Head Record:

• Matches Played: 13
• India Wins: 10
• Pakistan Wins: 3

Pitch and Weather Conditions

The Dubai International Stadium is expected to offer hot and humid conditions, testing the fitness and stamina of the players. The pitch has usually favored bowlers, especially spinners, making scoring difficult. Low-scoring thrillers are common here, and fans can expect another tense battle.

History at this ground also tells an interesting story. Since 2014, Pakistan and India have played eight T20Is here, and in seven of those matches, the team batting second has won. This makes the toss one of the most important moments of the game. The captain who wins it may not hesitate to bowl first.

Possible Playing XIs

Both sides are unlikely to make changes after their strong starts in the Asia Cup.

India’s Probable XI:

• Abhishek Sharma
• Shubman Gill
• Sanju Samson (wk)
• Suryakumar Yadav (capt)
• Tilak Varma
• Shivam Dube
• Hardik Pandya
• Axar Patel
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Jasprit Bumrah
• Varun Chakravarthy

Jasprit Bumrah will lead India’s fast-bowling unit, with support from Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy will take responsibility for the spin department.

Pakistan’s Probable XI:

• Sahibzada Farhan
• Saim Ayub
• Fakhar Zaman
• Salman Agha (capt)
• Hasan Nawaz
• Mohammad Haris (wk)
• Mohammad Nawaz
• Faheem Ashraf
• Shaheen Shah Afridi
• Sufiyan Muqeem
• Abrar Ahmed

For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi remains the leader of the pace attack, alongside Faheem Ashraf. Spin will play a huge role with Mohammad Nawaz, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Abrar Ahmed. The big question was whether Haris Rauf would return, but the team is expected to stick with the winning formula of playing two specialist spinners.

A New Rivalry Begins

This Asia Cup clash between Pakistan and India is about much more than just points on the table. With the absence of familiar stars like Kohli, Rohit, Babar, and Rizwan, the spotlight is firmly on the new generation. These young players now have the chance to step out of the shadows and become household names.

The atmosphere in Dubai will be electric. Fans from both countries have traveled in large numbers, and millions more will be glued to their screens at home. For the players, the stakes could not be higher. A strong performance here could define their careers, while a poor one could haunt them for years.

As the lights shine bright and the first ball is bowled, the world will not just be waiting for a result. They will be watching to see who takes up the mantle of cricket’s biggest rivalry and writes their name into history.

The stage is set. The tension is real. The stakes are massive. Tonight, a new chapter begins in the Pakistan–India cricket story.

READ MORE: Pakistan Likely to Retain Winning XI Against India in Dubai