भारत vs पाकिस्तान, फाइनल Commentary, Live Updates

1 run.

Hussain Talat is the new man in.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Pakistan are losing their way in the crucial middle over phase now. Varun dishes out a full delivery, and outside off. Fakhar Zaman is forced to reach at it by throwing his bat away. Only manages to slice it up in the air. The ball dips towards backward point and Kuldeep Yadav takes a simple catch. Fakhar Zaman departs for 46 (35) and Pakistan are 126/4. They were 113/1 at one stage.

SIX! That has gone MILES! A leg break from Varun, around the off stump line. Fakhar Zaman clears the front leg and hoists it miles up in the sky towards long on. Powers it into the stands for a huge 89-meter six.

Goodness me! That has passed centimetres close to the off pole. Flatter delivery from Varun, full and just around off. Fakhar Zaman tries to pick the bones out of it by slogging across the line, but misses to connect.

On a length at 92.4 kph, outside off. Fakhar Zaman slashes hard, clearing backward point for a couple of runs.

Darted in at the stumps, on a nagging length, Agha backs away and slices it to the left of deep cover for a couple of runs.

Full and on the pads, clipped past mid-wicket for a single by Fakhar.

Flat and short, on off, Salman punches it wide of cover for a single to get off the mark.

Pakistan's skipper, Salman Agha is in next.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! India get another wicket in quick succession! This is on a length from Axar, around off. It lands and then grips off the deck, spinning away. Haris advances, trying to loft it inside out, but does not generate enough power and is nowhere close to the pitch of the ball. Goes through his lofted shot, but finds Rinku Singh at wide long off. A simple regulation grab for Rinku in the deep. Mohammad Haris departs for a two-baller and from 113/1, Pakistan have slipped down to 114/3.

Zaman now clips this ball to the square leg region for a single.

WHISKER! Pitches full and stops a bit on the pitch, across off. Fakhar Zaman tries to slog that across the line and is beaten.

Tidy from Kuldeep! Full and outside off. Haris tries to paddle it and gets an inside edge onto the pads.

A promotion for Mohammad Haris as he walks in at number 4.

OUT! GONE! CAUGHT! Kuldeep Yadav breaks this brewing 29-run partnership for the second wicket. Kuldeep dishes out a length ball. It lands and spins away from the batter. Saim Ayub rushes on the back foot and tries to cut it past point, but ends up hitting it a bit uppishly. The ball dips in front of Jasprit Bumrah, stationed at point. He bends forward and scoops the ball before the grass cleanly. Another low score for Saim Ayub as he walks back for 14 (11). Pakistan are 113/2 now.

Short and flat, on the pads. Fakhar Zaman tucks it off the back foot through mid-wicket. Fakhar runs the first hard and sniffs a second but Ayub sends him back on a sharp call as the fielder in the deep is quick to run in and prevent any other run.

Drags the length back, on middle and leg. Fakhar Zaman hangs deep in the crease and plays with soft hands. Nudges the ball to the mid-wicket region and the call is straightaway for two. And they get it. Excellent running!

WIDE! Trying to keep the ball away from the arc. Length ball, spinning beyond the wide guideline. Fakhar leaves it alone. Called a Wide.

Slower through the air, outside off, on a length. Saim Ayub cuts it between cover and point for a single.

Quicker delivery, on a length, around off. Saim Ayub rocks back and cuts it straight to Jasprit Bumrah at cover-point.

WIDE! Miles outside off, full and spinning away from the tramline. Saim leaves. Wide called.

The length is pulled back by a yard, on off. Fakhar Zaman gets on top of it and flashes it over cover-point. Shubman Gill from deep backward point runs to his left and cuts it off. Two taken. 9 runs off Tilak's first over.

Tossed up, very full and outside off. Saim digs it out and drills it to the left of the bowler. Tilak Varma dives to his left but the ball evades him and runs towards long on. They cross.

Full and on middle. Zaman slogs it to deep mid-wicket and rotates the strike with a single.

Too full and flat, outside off. Zaman gets forward and carves it back to Tilak.

FOUR! SMASHED! Loose from Tilak as this is a genuine half-volley, on off. Fakhar Zaman skips down the track and bludgeons it over the bowler for a boundary. 100 UP FOR PAKISTAN IN 11.2 OVERS!

Around the stumps. Length ball around off. Fakhar hangs back and punches it to the long off region for an easy single.

A change in bowling as Tilak Varma comes on.

Back of a length, a slower one at 115 kph, outside off. Saim Ayub hangs back and taps the ball into the cover-point region for a quick single. 11 off that over, and 21 from the last two overs for Pakistan. Shivam Dube's figures read 3-0-23-0 so far.

FOUR! Helped away! Wayward from Dube, as this is onto the pads, on a length. Saim Ayub just gets bat on ball and the ball races to the left of Jasprit Bumrah at short fine leg for a boundary.

Nagging length, around off, Ayub cuts it off the back foot to cover.

FOUR! Powered away! Short and on the bodyline, nipping in. Saim pivots on the back foot and pulls it flat towards deep square leg, beating the fielder's dive to his right for a boundary.

Mistimed, but safe! Length ball at 125.4 kph, outside off. Fakhar Zaman shuffles across to scoop the length ball over short fine leg. But mistimes it off the toe end, in the air. The ball lands wide of short fine leg. Jasprit Bumrah moves to his right and the batters cross.

Hurls it full and outside off. Ayub drives it through extra cover for a single.

Fuller and slower, on the pads, Fakhar plays the paddle and it is fine of the man at short fine leg. Kuldeep Yadav gives it a chase and hauls it in. A brace to end the over. 10 runs and a wicket off the over. At the halfway mark, Pakistan are 87/1.

This stays a bit low, at 92.3 kph, short and on middle. Saim adjusts to the low bounce and whips it to wide long on for a single to get off the mark.

DRINKS BREAK. Pakistan were motoring at a healthy run rate and passed the first huddle against the new ball cautiously. But just went they were looking to go overdrive, Varun Chakaravarthy has provided a timely breakthrough for India. The pitch has not appeared to be a truly flat one, but the batters have not let any loose ball go unpunished. This is the phase where Pakistan have been really vulnerable in this Asia Cup and the Indian spin trio will be desperate to get a couple of quick wickets to slow down the scoring. Suryakumar Yadav is seen calling his men in a huddle and is offering some words of wisdom, trying to calm the nerves a bit. Saim Ayub walks in at number 3 for Pakistan.

OUT! CAUGHT! Varun Chakaravarthy has his revenge! Sahibzada Farhan admonishes himself as he bangs the bat onto the turf. Understandably so, as he was batting so well. This is the googly from Varun and the length is pulled back, on middle. Farhan goes on the back foot to unleash the pull, but does not quite get hold of it. Hits it flat and straight down the throat of deep mid-wicket, where Tilak Varma bends and takes a reverse-cup catch around his chin. Farhan falls for 57 (38). Pakistan are 84/1.

SIX! High and handsome! Tossed up by Varun, on middle, on a length, Farhan clears the front leg and swings through the line. Clears the man at long on for a six.

Pushed across the left-hander, on a length, Fakhar reaches out and hits it down to long off for a single.

Dropped short, on off, Fakhar rocks back and slaps it towards extra cover. Zaman wants a quick single but is sent back as the extra cover fielder cuts it off with a dive to his right.

Varun Chakaravarthy (1-0-5-0) replaces Axar Patel.

A bit short, on middle, Fakhar stays back and tucks it to deep square leg for another single.

On a nagging length, on middle, Farhan works it through mid-wicket for a single.

FIFTY FOR FARHAN! Back-to-back fifties against India for Sahibzada! Just a raise of the bat from the Pakistani opener this time around. Short and outside off by Kuldeep, Farhan goes on the back foot and carves it over backward point for a couple of runs.

Fakhar Zaman gets away with it! The length is pulled back by Kuldeep and it is the googly, on middle and leg. Fakhar premeditates as he comes down the track, and he looks to adjust. Gets beaten on the inside edge, but luckily for him, the ball catches the back thigh and lobs over the head of the keeper. It rolls behind Sanju Samson for a leg bye.

SIX Smoked! Looped up by Kuldeep, full and on middle, at 84.5 kph. Fakhar collapses his back knee and clubs it over deep mid-wicket for a six.

Short and not a lot of turn, on off, Farhan punches it off the back foot to long on for a single.

Wide! This is sprayed just beyond the tramline on off. Sahibzada Farhan lets it be. A tight call but given as a wide.

Kuldeep Yadav (1-0-11-0) to continue.

Patel fires it across the left-hander from around the wicket, Fakhar reaches out to cut it away but fails to connect. Zaman looks at the umpire but the umpire is happy with it.

Coming in the with the arm, short and on middle, nudged through mid-wicket for one more by Farhan.

FOUR! In the gap! This is slowed down and bowled fuller by Axar, on the off stump. Sahibzada gets down on a knee and reaches out in front. Slog sweeps it right between long on and deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Attacking the stumps and this is speared in a bit short, Farhan guides it to backward point.

Flat and short, near the tramline on off, Farhan waits back and slaps it to the left of long off for a brace.

Floated up, on middle and leg, Zaman slogs it away towards deep backward square leg for a single.

SIX! BANG! A six off the final ball turns a quiet over into a productive one for Pakistan! Kuldeep errs in length as this is a bit too short, on middle and leg. Sahibzada Farhan goes deep in the crease and nails the pull way over deep square leg for a biggie. 11 runs off the over.

50 comes up for Pakistan! On middle and leg, a bit quicker, on a length, Farhan backs away and swats it in between deep mid-wicket and long on. Rinku Singh sprints to his left and dives to save the boundary. It is mopped up by the converging long on fielder. Two runs taken.

Kuldeep dishes out a googly, on a nagging length, on middle, Sahibzada steps out but does not quite get to the pitch of the ball. Adjusts to the length by tapping it towards short mid-wicket.

Sliding onto the pads, on a length, turned away through square leg for another single by Fakhar.

Slows it down but the length stays short and this turns into the pads, Sahibzada presses back and works it with the spin towards square leg for one.

Starts off on the shorter side, on middle, Zaman whips it through mid-wicket for a single.

Change of bat for Sahibzada Farhan. The man from the Pakistani dugout comes with a couple of willows. Farhan chooses one and is good to go. Also, a change in bowling. Here's Kuldeep Yadav into the attack. A bit earlier than usual, though. India are in desperate need of wickets here. He replaces Varun Chakaravarthy.

FOUR! Up and over! A good result to end the Powerplay for Pakistan. This is dropped short by Axar but Farhan backs away and makes enough room for himself to free his arms. Flat bats it over mid off for a boundary. 8 runs off Patel's first over. At the end of 6 overs, Pakistan are 45/0.

Fuller and attacking the stumps, Fakhar gets down on a knee and mows it to deep backward square leg for a run.

Short and slower, on the pads, Fakhar Zaman stays back and tucks it with soft hands in front of deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Live visuals show that Shivam Dube is currently sitting in the Indian dugout. Not quite sure about the reason. Jitesh Sharma is in as the substitute fielder for now.

Axar darts it towards the right-hander again from around the wicket. On a nagging length, on middle, Farhan is tucked up for room and swipes it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Pushed through at 92.2 kph, slanting into the right-hander, Sahibzada Farhan waits back to work it away on the leg side. Gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Sliding on with the arm, following the batter, on the shorter side, Farhan backs away and punches it to cover-point.

Another over for Jasprit Bumrah in the Powerplay? Nope. Axar Patel comes on.

Good effort in the field, as that was traveling at the rate of knots! Pulls the length back a bit, does Varun, outside off, and a googly. Sahibzada Farhan backs away and smashes it to pierce cover and point, but the fielder at cover dives to his left and makes a half stop, slowing the ball behind him. A single taken.

Drags the length back, on the pads. Fakhar Zaman nudges it to widish mid-wicket for a single.

Varun sees Zaman shuffling outside leg to create room and fires it wide outside off, on a fuller length. Fakhar Zaman throws his bat at it and gets a thick outside edge. The ball shoots between the keeper and the short third fielder for a couple of runs.

Flat and quick, pitching on the leg stump and drifting in. Fakhar Zaman tries to sweep, but he gets beaten on the inside edge and the ball hits the back pad.

Pitched full and around off, Sahibzada Farhan sits down and sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy is into the attack now. Starts with a length ball, spinning in from off. Sahibzada Farhan is rushed on the back foot and punches it to mid off.

Full toss, outside off, Farhan drives it to wide mid off for a quick single. An expensive over from Bumrah. 13 runs from it.

Around the wicket, with a change of pace, just outside off, on a length. Fakhar Zaman tries to push at it, but gets beaten on the outside edge. The ball rolls behind to the keeper, where Sanju Samson fumbles on his left and the ball is parried towards short third. The replays indicate that the ball might have grazed the outside edge on its way to the keeper, but it has been given as a bye.

Looks like Sahibzada Farhan is experiencing some discomfort in his right shoulder. The physio is out to have a look. Farhan is fine to resume.

Had to hurry! On a length, around off, Farhan punches it towards mid off and sets off for a quick single. He has to put on the afterburners as Suryakumar Yadav picks and throws in a motion and scores a direct hit at the non-striker's end. However, the replay shows that Farhan has comfortably slid his bat inside the crease before the stumps were hit.

Direct hit from Suryakumar Yadav but no one looks overly excited. Sahibzada Farhan is home as he managed to slide his bat inside the crease.

SIX! That is a meaty blow! Back of a length, just outside off. Sahibzada Farhan reads the slower one and the length early and has enough room to work with. Sails it over long off for a cracking six.

Short and around off, at 134.7 kph. Sahibzada Farhan looks to slash it between cover and point, but hits it straight to the man at cover-point.

FOUR! That is some stroke! Bumrah bashes the hard length, at 140.7 kph, on middle. Sahibzada Farhan stands tall, clears the front leg and pulls it powerfully over wide mid on for a boundary.

FOUR! Clever! Good adjustment from Fakhar! Dube spots Zaman dancing down the track and bangs it short into the pitch, on the off stump line. Fakhar Zaman, due to the gentle pace of the delivery, has enough time to adjust and plays the uppercut over the keeper for a boundary.

Angled wide outside off, on a fullish length. Fakhar Zaman extends his arms and drives it straight to backward point.

Farhan has struggled for rhythm so far. Very full, around off. Sahibzada Farhan tries to smash that through the off side by bending a bit low, but only manages to get a thick inside edge. The ball rolls past the leg stump towards short fine leg for a single.

A low full toss, around off. Zaman advances down the track and smashes it to the left of Dube. Shivam bends low on the follow-through and tries to stop with his left hand, but the ball gets parried towards mid on for a single.

Shortens the length, does Dube, and angles it into the batter. Sahibzada Farhan moves a bit towards the leg side and punches it wide of cover for a single.

Fractionally full and on off, Fakhar Zaman prods forward and drives it to the left of mid off for a quick single.

BEATEN! Touch full in length, outside off. It lands and folds away a shy bit. Sahibzada Farhan goes for an extravagant lofted shot across the line and the ball zips past the bat. 6 runs from Bumrah's first over.

FOUR! Up and over! Full and wide on off, moving away. Sahibzada Farhan bends low and lofts it over backward point for a boundary.

Slanting onto the pads, on a back of a length. Farhan tucks it behind square on the leg side. Abhishek Sharma runs to his right from deep square leg, and fumbles a bit to pick it up, before releasing the ball. Two taken.

BEATEN! Still, no bat on ball. Swings away from outside off, on a good length. Sahibzada Farhan barely moves his feet and tries to swing it over the in-field, but only manages to connect with thin air.

SWING AND A MISS! Tempting stuff from Bumrah! Gets an away shape, wide outside off, on a fullish length. Sahibzada Farhan extends his arms to hit it through cover, but is comprehensively beaten on the outside edge.

Starts from around the stumps and angles it onto the pads, on a hard length, at 136.7 kph. Fakhar Zaman misses to nudge it across. The ball deflects off his thigh pad, and runs towards deep fine leg. They cross for a leg bye.

Jasprit Bumrah will steam in from the other end.

Tight line, on top of off, good length at 131.5 kph. Sahibzada Farhan hops off and knocks it back to the bowler. A decent opening over from Dube. 4 off it.

FOUR! In the air, one bounce, and over the ropes! Pakistan and Sahibzada Farhan are up and running in this finale! Full and at a gentle pace, nipping away from off. Sahibzada Farhan clears the front leg and tonks it over mid on for a boundary.

Back of a length, just outside off. Farhan rises with the bounce and punches it firmly to cover.

BEATEN! A peach of a delivery from Dube! This time, the line of attack is in that corridor of uncertainty, on the fourth stump, on a hard length, shaping away. Sahibzada Farhan again does not move his feet much and tries to push it straight, but gets beaten past the outside edge.

Similar line and length, with some gentle outswing. Sahibzada Farhan pushes it back to the bowler.

Just a little away shape for Dube on a good length, outside off. Sahibzada Farhan plays from the crease and tries to slash it away, but gets it off the inner half of the bat. The ball rolls back to Dube.

Done with the national anthems. All the preparations are done, past results are bygones, and the moment is now. Suryakumar Yadav leads his men out to the middle. It will be the left-hand, right-hand combination of Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan to open the innings for Pakistan. Well, it is going to be Shivam Dube with the new ball for India. Dube to Farhan with a slip in place. Here we go!

We are hearing that the final is a sell-out, and it is no surprise given that this is an event 41 years in the making. Fans have been queuing up since 2.30 pm local time for the 6.30 pm start, and the stands are nearly full now, with only a few seats left to be taken. Time for the national anthems then. The match officials, followed by the two sets of players, head out to the centre. It will be Pakistan's national anthem first, followed by that of India.

India's Jasprit Bumrah is up for a quick chat with the broadcasters. He says that the weather is fantastic and the tournament has been amazing so far as well. Tells that it is not a regular scene that you play a single team three times in a single tournament. About his role bowling in the Powerplay, Bumrah mentions that the team wants him to bowl upfront and also feels that it is an interesting role. Highlights that he did it back in 2016 when he was pretty new to the stage. Says that he is trying to contribute to the best of his ability. Admits that in this format, you don't look at reputation. Shares that IPL has helped him a lot. Says there are a lot of youngsters in the side and they are confident enough. Stresses that in any game, you start from zero, and mentions that they just need to focus on themselves and do the basics right, and not on what the opposition is doing.

PITCH REPORT - Simon Doull is near the deck. Shares that he is not surprised that India have opted to chase, given that they have won all 8 times against Pakistan when they have chased in T20Is. Ravi Shastri joins him and observes that the surface has a lot less grass and it looks flat. Opines that the track could get slower as the game progresses due to the lack of grass. Doull informs that this is the same surface the previous two India-Pakistan games were played. Further says that 127 and 171 have been the scores while batting first on this surface. Ravi reckons that 170 in a final is like 180-190 in a league game and while it may not end up being match-winning, it will certainly put pressure on the opposition. On Hardik Pandya's injury, Ravi says that, in hindsight, India will feel that they should have rested Hardik in the dead rubber against Sri Lanka.

India (Playing XI) - Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh (In for Hardik Pandya), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube (In for Arshdeep Singh), Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah (In for Harshit Rana).

Pakistan (Unchanged Playing XI) - Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (C), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (WK), Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, and Abrar Ahmed.

The captain of Pakistan, Salman Agha, says that they would have batted first and shares that they have been doing well while batting first. Says they are excited and looking forward to this game. Admits that they have not played a perfect game, but he is hopeful that they will play one this time around. Also shares that they have been playing on these pitches for a while and believes it won't change much. Informs that they are going unchanged.

The captain of India, Suryakumar Yadav, believes that this is a good wicket and feels that under lights, it will get better. Adds that the track looks hard and reckons that it will remain good for 40 overs. Mentions that the occasion of the final should not matter, and they must continue to play the brand of cricket they have been playing so far. Informs that Hardik Pandya misses out due to a niggle. Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana also miss out, with Shivam Dube, Jasprit Bumrah and Rinku Singh the ones coming into the side.

TOSS UPDATE - The coin is flipped for one final time in this Asia Cup, and it lands in favor of India and Suryakumar Yadav elects to BOWL first.

India have embraced a fearless approach in the shortest format, while the Men in Green are still adjusting to the demands of modern T20I batting. Often touted as cricket’s fiercest rivalry, the head-to-head record suggests otherwise, with India holding a commanding 12-3 advantage in T20Is. Pakistan’s last triumph over India came in the 2022 Asia Cup, but whether they can rewrite that story tonight remains to be seen. Stay tuned for the toss and team updates.

Abhishek Sharma has commandeered the spotlight with the bat, amassing no fewer than 30 runs in each match and exuding the assurance of three consecutive fifties. The Indian middle order is gradually finding its cohesion, yet skipper Suryakumar Yadav and opener Shubman Gill have struggled to translate starts into significant contributions. For Pakistan, Sahibzada Farhan has been the most dependable batter, while Saim Ayub has faltered in consistency, registering four ducks in the tournament. Still, Ayub has made a notable impact with the ball, establishing himself as Pakistan’s best spinner ahead of Abrar Ahmed, while Mohammad Nawaz has been highly underutilized.

The middle phase, meaning, 7-15 overs, have been very crucial in this Asia Cup. That’s when the Indian spinners, in particular, have shown their craft. The spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakaravarthy has arrested the run flow punctuated by crucial wickets during this phase. For Pakistan, particularly in their last two matches against India, this phase has been their undoing - they’ve lost seven wickets in this period, which has consistently derailed their innings. This period of the game has shaped much of the action so far, and it again promises to be a key battleground in the final.

Pakistan’s journey has been a different story. After a rocky start, they’ve found their rhythm heading into the final. Whether it was restricting Sri Lanka to a subpar total or defending a modest target against Bangladesh, the bowlers have risen to the occasion, spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi. His early strikes, including four Powerplay wickets across the last two matches, have set the tone, while Haris Rauf has regained form. Yet they have faltered against India in both previous encounters. With the bat, Fakhar Zaman's shift to opener has brought much-needed stability, complemented by Sahibzada Farhan's aggressive strokeplay at the top. 

India have been the only unbeaten team in this edition, undefeated in the group stage and coming through the Super 4s largely on the back of fireworks from Abhishek Sharma at the top. But their Super 4 journey wasn’t entirely flawless. Fielding hiccups, a middle order that has wavered at times, and a few injury concerns have kept the side on its toes. A couple of players battled cramps against Sri Lanka, and Hardik Pandya's fitness remains in doubt. If he isn’t fully fit, India could be short both a hitter and an all-rounder. Beyond that, the squad looks solid. With Jasprit Bumrah and Shivam Dube set to return, the bowling gains stability, though without Bumrah, the pace attack showed cracks, nearly letting a total of 202 slip away.

‘Pressure is privilege, and it comes only to those who earn it.’ That saying from American tennis legend Billie Jean King could not be more fitting tonight. The 17th edition of the Asia Cup has built up to this grand finale in Dubai, where India and Pakistan, two arch-rivals carrying the weight of national pride, face off in an Asia Cup final for the very first time. 41 years ago, the tournament began as a three-match series with just three teams. But it has now grown over the years, featuring eight teams for the first time. India chase their ninth title in their 12th final, while Pakistan have won twice, last in 2012, and finished runners-up in 1986, 2014 and 2022, and are eyeing their third trophy. On that note, hello and welcome to our coverage. Glad to have you all with us.

... THE FINALE ...

‘If it is Love's wager/game, then bet whatever you wish - Why fear? If you win, what a triumph! Even if you lose, the game is not a checkmate (final defeat).' This defiant philosophical couplet from Faiz Ahmad Faiz can be used to capture the very purity of the all-or-nothing emotional gamble that is an India vs Pakistan Final. It reflects the immense risk players take with their careers and their nations’ expectations on the field, where every ball is a life-changing bet, and even in defeat, the enduring nature of the rivalry guarantees the cycle will begin anew. A Love Story Written in Fire between these South Asian nations is much, much greater than just a sport, right from the time of the Partition. Cricket is the most popular and followed sport in both countries, or to say, cricket is a war on the field when these two teams meet. Can you feel the tension? Surely, everyone can. Why does an India-Pakistan match feel like more than just cricket every single time? The answer lies in the hype that starts to generate in both countries through media and fans, as these nations are neighbours, friends, rivals, and sometimes frenemies. Political tensions, cross-border memories, and fan emotions all collide whenever these teams meet. Every cheer, every sigh, every wicket carries decades of history. The Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai will not be played just for a win or a trophy. In contrast, the players of both teams will walk out to salvage pride with a different kind of passion, and a borderline emotional rollercoaster that stretches from Delhi to Karachi. It is a spectacle of rivalry so intense that you could cut the tension with a blunt butter knife. A legendary rivalry? Ah, the Purity! Beneath the flags and the fury lies a deep, beautiful, but heartbreaking bond. The rivalry, which traces its roots back to the painful partition of 1947, is less about sport and more about two separated siblings finally meeting. It is about a legacy passed down from giants like Imran Khan to Sachin Tendulkar and then from Shahid Afridi to Virat Kohli. There's a profound, almost sad purity in the sight of these young men playing, knowing that for 40 overs, they are the only thing connecting and dividing around two billion people in the world. But what makes this specific Asia Cup final truly historic and utterly baffling? Can you Believe It? The sheer, mind-boggling fact is that this is the first-ever final between India and Pakistan in the entire history of the Asia Cup. How, in decades of competition and countless heated battles, have these two teams never made it to the final dance together? It’s an anomaly of cosmic proportions. Hence, this game won’t be played just for a trophy, but rather to correct a strange, prolonged historical oversight. After India’s dominant win against Pakistan in a group stage match in this tournament, the sporting world witnessed something truly dismaying - India refused the customary handshakes. The Indian captain justified it by saying, ‘Some things are more important than sportsmanship,’ dedicating the win to the victims of the Pahalgam attack. This choice, while emotionally charged for India, was seen globally as a major breach of the 'Spirit of Cricket’. Also, there has been the funky, ill-tempered fallout from the on-field skirmishes and gestures. Pure Chaos! The bad blood flowed like cheap ink. Pakistan’s Haris Rauf was fined 30% of his match fee for an aggressive, military-style gesture (metaphorically depicting the 'downing of aircraft') towards the indian fans, while Sahibzada Farhan was warned for his abominable celebration after his fifty. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav was also hit with a fine for ‘inflammatory comments’ alluding to military conflict. Then, opener Abhishek Sharma added to the funky humour with a quip, saying he went after Pakistan because ‘the way they came at us... for no reason.’ It has all been there in the past couple of days after the second match between them in the Asia Cup 2025. The ICC might have felt like a babysitter at a particularly aggressive children's party. So, what valuable lessons did the tournament teach us before the final day? We Learned Nothing and Everything! We learned that India are a juggernaut, cruising unbeaten, while the minnows like Oman and the UAE offered sweet, fleeting moments of competitive cricket before their inevitable, sad elimination. We learned that the field is indeed top-heavy, with the final being the dream fixture for the Asian Cricket Council, ensuring maximum viewership despite the early exits of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Now, now, it has come down to this question - Are India truly the ‘Best Team’ going into Sunday, or can Pakistan argue otherwise? Unquestionably! India have been ruthlessly clinical, dispatching every opponent with an enviable combination of batting firepower and spin strangulation. They have not only won but dominated the key phases of every match. Pakistan, in contrast, have scraped through, relying on their bowlers' grit and a 'new T20 route' that often looks more like a terrifying detour. India hold the psychological advantage, winning both prior matches in the tournament. Let’s know in detail about the first team to reach the final. INDIA. How are they shaping up? Abhishek Sharma is in the form of his life, a pure, unadulterated spectacle of T20 hitting. His three consecutive 60-plus scores in three Super Four matches, with a strike rate of around 200, have given India the start of a dream. But then there's skipper Suryakumar Yadav, one of the T20 World’s best, who is enduring an alarming slump with scores of 12,5, and a golden duck in the recent outings. It’s an agonising, sad riddle, as how can the world’s best be so out of sorts when the final looms? On the flip side, how has the rest of India’s batting order shown unexpected resilience? Relief! India’s middle order was the initial question mark, but thanks to the steady hands of Sanju Samson and the rediscovered timing of Tilak Varma, particularly against the relentless pressure from Sri Lanka, the unit is humming. They have found the rhythm of rotation and boundary hitting, confirming that India’s batting depth extends far beyond the openers. But there is India’s biggest, most embarrassing flaw on the field. Oh, dear, The Fumbles! Despite all their world-class talent, India’s fielding is their awkward secret. It has been a weak spot for India in the tournament, with too many dropped catches and misfields. The Sri Lanka match highlighted this under pressure, as fumbles allowed extra runs and contributed to the match stretching into a Super Over. While batting has been strong, the Indian team knows that clean fielding will be critical against Pakistan’s attack. It is almost comically frustrating - a team of such lethal precision with the bat and ball suddenly looks like they’ve all forgotten how to catch a simple ball. They must shed this funky humour and be clinical in the final. Their strength? Spinners. What makes India’s Spin Trio the purest form of bowling art in Dubai? Pure Magic! On the slow, gripping Dubai surface, India’s Spin Trio is as lethal as they can be. Kuldeep Yadav is the artist, flighting the ball like a painter and collecting wickets with clinical ease. Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy are the choking agents, miserly and restrictive. They squeeze the life out of the middle overs, creating the pressure that fast bowlers like the ever-silent threat of Jasprit Bumrah can then exploit. Even just the presence of Bumrah on the field exerts psychological pressure on opposition batsmen, and it shows India’s intimidating bowling depth.The Worries? The camp is under siege from cramps and strains. The fitness of the impactful all-rounder Hardik Pandya (hamstring) and the key opener Abhishek (thigh) is the immediate headache. Due to the rapid turnaround, their final preparation is dedicated entirely to rest and recovery, not nets. The final will probably be the first time they truly test their bodies. Now, time to know about the other team. PAKISTAN. How did they manage to reach the final despite their internal and external pressures? Grit and Drama! Pakistan's qualification was a testament to their famous Unpredictability and sheer force of will. They clung to their new-fangled 'T20 route' strategy, which seems to prioritise bowling depth. They ground out a nerve-wracking 11-run defence against Bangladesh, proving that when their backs are against the wall, they can turn their bowling into a brick wall. Who has been their match-winner? Fear the Pace! It is the sublime brilliance of Shaheen Afridi. He is an all-round phenomenon, delivering explosive new-ball spells, including a decisive 3/17, and hitting crucial, high-impact runs, like 19 off 10 in a low score match against Bangladesh in a crunch match. Paired with the sheer, raw pace of Haris Rauf, who nails those death-over yorkers, this pace attack is their true, majestic source of hope and power. But what is the other aspect of Pakistan’s campaign that must be fixed immediately? The Collective SIGH! Their fragile top-order batting is the source of much fan sadness and despair. Saim Ayub has bagged a couple of ducks already, but Sahibzada Farhan has been in solid form at the top, providing aggressive starts. Though he has struggled for consistency despite being their best batter so far in the tournament, the middle order is repeatedly exposed too early. It could again be a desperate plea for the likes of Hussain Talat and Mohammad Haris down the order to stand up and absorb the pressure of the Indian spin attack. Also, there has been a functional and funky mystery surrounding star spinner Mohammad Nawaz. The Mystery of the Missing Ball. Coach Mike Hesson touts him as a world-class left-arm spinner, yet Nawaz was weirdly unused with the ball in key Super Four matches. While he has been handy with the bat, the failure to unleash his wrist spin against India’s many right-handers was a confounding decision. Finally, he got to bowl in their last match against Bangladesh. So, the final question looms over them - can Pakistan finally conquer the heavy psychological pressure against India? This is the psychological summit they must climb. Losing twice already in the tournament, the mental scars are deep. Pakistan need a moment of pure, unified genius, and a performance of such dazzling commitment that it wipes away all the anxiety and past defeats. This final is less about technical skill and more about which team can stare down the overwhelming, high-stakes pressure and refuse to blink. An important discussion has been among cricketing pundits - will the toss be the ultimate decider on the Dubai pitch? The Flip of Fate. Yes! The toss will be absolutely critical. The Dubai pitch has been playing a strange trick, historically favouring the chase, but recently slowing down significantly under the lights in the Super Fours, making batting first the new, favoured strategy. All the last three matches in Dubai have been won by the team that batted first. 170-180 is a good score, but with the pitch drying out, the captain who bats first and sets a total of 185-plus will feel confident in the Final, especially. The pivotal player matchups? Every ball is a story, but the championship hinges on these magnificent battles. The opening war features Abhishek, India’s explosive Powerplay sensation, facing the terrifying early swing of Shaheen - whoever will win this duel gives their side a massive momentum swing. The middle-overs grind pits the form-struggling captain SKY against the sheer speed and pinpoint yorkers of Haris, as if SKY finds his form here, India will cruise, but if Rauf dismisses him, there could be a real collapse. Finally, the test of will involves Pakistan’s vulnerable opener, Sahibzada, taking on the guile and flight of India's spin maestro, Kuldeep, as Farhan must survive this examination or Pakistan's innings will crumble instantly. And Bumrah’s aura will challenge the likes of Salman Agha and Fakhar Zaman, while Samson and Tilak, regaining form, will be tested by Pakistan’s spin, making every over count. This is the purity of the rivalry - the best against the best, individual skill against individual skill. Despite covering this much and playing against each other, this rivalry always guarantees the unexpected - something, somewhere, will always be left out to mention. You simply have to hang on and wait for the action to kick off, as this match will be defined by fire, fury, and moments of sublime, breathtaking genius. Probably, a classic is on the cards! GET READY!