India vs Pakistan: Favourites and the Subdued Build-Up
Dubai: A star-studded Indian squad enters Sunday’s Asia Cup clash against arch-rivals Pakistan as overwhelming favourites, yet the encounter is curiously lacking the usual frenzy despite escalating border tensions in recent months.
The stakes are far from trivial. With a T20 World Cup set to take place in India in just four months, this match has plenty of context. Yet, for the first time in years, an India-Pakistan clash—even on a Sunday—feels stripped of the typical high-octane narrative.
India’s lineup boasts hitters like Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, alongside pacer Jasprit Bumrah and spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. On paper, they are far more menacing than Pakistan, who are still finding their footing under new captain Salman Ali Agha.
Upsets are always possible in T20 cricket, but against this Indian side, the odds are heavily stacked. Pakistan’s hope lies in talents such as opener Saim Ayub, middle-order batsman Hasan Nawaz, and the spin trio of Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Mohammed Nawaz—players looking to shine in a team no longer reliant solely on Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
Political Shadows Over the Match
The recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, has further strained ties between the countries. The subsequent military response and public anger have contributed to a muted build-up for what is normally the most high-profile fixture in continental cricket.
Thousands of tickets remain unsold, and Friday’s India practice saw minimal fan turnout. Calls for a boycott in India have gained some traction, leaving uncertainty over how many BCCI officials will attend. While the Indian government allows national team matches against Pakistan in multi-nation tournaments, bilateral clashes remain off-limits.
Media representatives are trying to stir the narrative, but both sides have largely ignored politically charged questions, keeping the focus on cricket.
Spinner Showdown
Typically, India-Pakistan matches revolve around Indian batsmen versus Pakistani pacers. This time, however, spinners from both sides are expected to play a crucial role. With Jasprit Bumrah and Shaheen Shah Afridi as the only frontline pacers, the wrist spinners in both squads offer an intriguing subplot.
Sufiyan Muqeem is talented but not as crafty as Kuldeep Yadav, whose unplayable googly can baffle any batsman. Abrar Ahmed’s leg-breaks and flamboyant celebrations have made him a fan favourite, but Varun Chakravarthy’s mysterious variations could trouble Pakistan’s young guns, including Saim Ayub and Shahibzad Farhan.
Left-arm spinner Mohammed Nawaz, ranked 30th in ICC rankings, still pales in comparison to India’s Axar Patel, an understated yet crucial asset for the visitors.
Pakistan’s Batting Concerns
It is Pakistan’s batting, rather than bowling, that faces the greater challenge. India’s lineup—Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, and Shivam Dube—can dismantle any attack on their day.
Among all-rounders, Faheem Ashraf simply cannot match Hardik Pandya’s game-changing impact. Indian batsmen can neutralize the pitch entirely, putting immense pressure on Pakistan. Shaheen Shah Afridi remains a threat, especially at this venue where he famously dismissed KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli in the 2021 T20 World Cup. But post-knee surgery, his swing and pace are no longer at their peak.
The challenge for India lies in finalizing the ideal batting order. Sanju Samson’s position and Shivam Dube’s role in tackling spinners during the middle overs will be pivotal.
The roar of the crowd may be subdued, but the stakes are as high as ever. Because when India and Pakistan take the field, hype or no hype, the world watches.
