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IND vs PAK: 3 reasons why Pakistan can upset India in Asia Cup 2025 final

Devansh Poddar

IND vs PAK: 3 reasons why Pakistan can upset India in Asia Cup 2025 final image

The stage is set for an epic battle between two of the fiercest rivals, India and Pakistan, as they clash in the Finals of the Asia Cup 2025.

The two sides have already met each other twice in the tournament, and the Men In Blue have come on top on both occasions with great ease. India also has an overall winning streak of 7 games against their rivals across formats.

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While India starts as the favorite for the all-important clash, they cannot afford to take their opponents lightly. In this article, The Sporting News takes a look at the 3 possible reasons that could lead to Pakistan getting the better of India in the big finals.

1. India's reliance on Abhishek Sharma 

Team India has been heavily dependent on their openers, especially Abhishek Sharma, in the ongoing Asia Cup. The left-handed opener has done the bulk of the scoring for the side, scoring 309 runs, which is almost 30% of the total runs scored by the side in the tournament so far.

All the other Indian batters have either not been tested enough or struggled, including skipper Suryakumar Yadav.

MORE: Is Suryakumar Yadav in a T20I slump? SKY's last 10 T20 international innings performances analysed

The next best Indian batter in this tournament is Tilak Varma, who has just 144 runs. If Pakistan manages to dismiss Abhishek early in the game, India could well find themselves in trouble.

2. India's poor catching and bowling concerns in the second innings 

India's fielding has definitely been the most disappointing aspect for the side in the 2025 Asia Cup. The side has dropped as many as 12 catches in the tournament and has been one of the worst fielding sides

Another major concern for the side is their bowling while defending targets. While they haven't lost a game, the side has not been as dominant.

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The Indian bowlers conceded 167 runs against Oman, defending 188, while Sri Lanka nearly chased down 203 as the game went down to the Super Over.

If Pakistan bats second in the Finals, India will have to produce a much better performance against its rivals. Dubai pitch also tends to favour the chasing team due to the presence of dew in the second innings.

3. Pakistan's Finals record against India: A psychological edge

While India has been the dominant side over Pakistan when it comes to multi-national tournaments, the Men In Green have a slight edge when it comes to the tournament Finals.

More: India vs Pakistan head-to-head records in multi-national events

Pakistan has won 3 out of their 5 multi-national Finals against India and would carry a great psychological edge when they meet the Men In Blue in the big clash on Sunday.

When is the Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan?

India and Pakistan will meet in the Finals of the Asia Cup for the first time in the tournament's history. The marquee clash will commence on Sunday, September 28th, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. 

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Devansh Poddar

Devansh Poddar is a content producer for The Sporting News' India edition.