With the Asia Cup 2025 just around the corner, scheduled to begin on September 9th and conclude on September 28th, anticipation builds for the clash between India and Pakistan. The tournament will once again be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), mirroring the 2022 edition and the T20 format used three years prior. Regardless of the format or venue, all eyes will be on the India-Pakistan rivalry, with potentially three encounters. The question remains: which team has the upper hand?
Amidst various controversies, calls for boycotts, and ongoing tensions at the border, India and Pakistan are set to meet on September 14th in the Asia Cup. Both teams are placed in Group A, guaranteeing a face-off in the group stage. Moreover, a Super-4 round match is almost certain, barring any unexpected upsets from UAE or Oman. If both teams secure the top two positions in the Super-4, a final clash is also on the cards.
Considering the current form, Team India appears to have a stronger advantage, having defeated teams like Bangladesh, South Africa, Australia, and England in the past year, in addition to winning the T20 World Cup. Pakistan’s performance, however, has been inconsistent. But before the Asia Cup encounter, the venue’s significance must be noted. All potential matches, including the group stage game, will be played at the Dubai International Stadium, where Pakistan holds a slight edge.
India and Pakistan have played three T20 matches at this stadium, with Pakistan winning two and India one. In the Asia Cup three years ago, both teams won one match each on this ground. The additional win for Pakistan came in the 2021 T20 World Cup, marking their first victory against Team India in any World Cup. Coincidentally, India did not reach the final in that World Cup or the subsequent Asia Cup.
This suggests that playing the Asia Cup in the T20 format in the UAE might not be advantageous for Team India. However, with the strength of the Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav and coached by Gautam Gambhir, the impact of past records seems unlikely. This team has triumphed in various conditions against teams with diverse capabilities in the last year. Therefore, the Indian team is once again a strong contender for the title.