Dubai: Winning may not be everything, but for 11 Indian cricketers, it will be the only thing on their minds when they face an unpredictable Pakistan in the Asia Cup final on Sunday. The match comes after a high-voltage build-up where the lines between sport and politics have blurred.
As American political activist Mike Marqusee once described, this contest has always been “War Minus Shooting.” Over the years, India-Pakistan clashes have delivered adrenaline in spades, but rarely with such a combustible backdrop—where on-field action intertwines with off-field tensions, provocative gestures, and fines.
Despite the drama, the cricket itself has been compelling. Abhishek Sharma’s audacious strike rate above 200 and Kuldeep Yadav’s 13 wickets on return have stood out. Yet even these feats have often been overshadowed by controversies.
The saga began with India’s “No Handshake Policy” in the opening clash, where skipper Suryakumar Yadav turned away at the toss and after the match. Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf responded with taunts, abuses, and a controversial aircraft-crash gesture, leading to ICC scrutiny and 30% fines for both sides. The tensions have simmered all the way to the final.
Adding fuel to the fire, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi—who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board and Asian Cricket Council—has been posting cryptic and provocative messages on his ‘X’ timeline.
On paper, India are unbeaten juggernauts, with Sri Lanka pushing them to a Super Over in a tournament where they have now won six consecutive matches. Pakistan, meanwhile, stumbled through the group stages, but as coach Mike Hesson wryly noted after beating Bangladesh, “The final is the only match that counts.” In this fixture, reputation matters little.
India’s support staff echoed the sentiment. Bowling coach Morne Morkel, on pre-match duty, admitted: “Winning it ugly is still winning.”
Injury Concerns
India’s unbeaten streak hasn’t been without setbacks. Hardik Pandya left the Sri Lanka match after a hamstring scare, while Abhishek Sharma suffered cramps under the punishing Gulf heat.
“Hardik will be assessed tomorrow morning. Both he and Abhishek suffered cramps, but Abhishek is fine,” Morkel confirmed Friday night.
That’s a relief for India, as Abhishek has shouldered much of the batting load with 309 runs in six games, far ahead of Tilak Varma’s 144. Yet the law of averages looms; Pakistan legend Wasim Akram warned, “They need to get him early.” The question remains whether India’s other batters can rise around their new talisman.
Suryakumar Yadav is due a commanding innings, Shubman Gill has faltered in finishing, and Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma have only shone in inconsequential games. While Abhishek has anchored the Powerplay, India’s middle and lower order remain untested in high-pressure situations, leaving Plan B uncertain if the top order collapses.
Pakistan’s Fragile Batting
Pakistan’s batting, by contrast, has been inconsistent. Except for Sahibzada Farhan, who briefly troubled Jasprit Bumrah, no batter has made a mark.
Saim Ayub, expected to emulate Abhishek, endured a nightmare campaign with four ducks, at one point scoring fewer runs than wickets lost. Hussain Talat and Salman Ali Agha have struggled against India’s spinners. Sunday may again hinge on the guile of Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy.
Pakistan’s hopes rest on their new-ball attack. If Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf dismantle India’s top order early, a low-scoring contest could emerge. But like India’s dependence on Abhishek, Pakistan’s duo need support—something they have largely lacked.
Sunday’s clash may be remembered less for theatrics and more for results. As the old adage goes, “All’s well that ends well.” For India, only one ending is acceptable: victory over Pakistan, whether it’s convincing or scrappy.
Squads
India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (C), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Sufyan Moqim.
