The highly anticipated final of the Asia Cup 2025 between India and Pakistan is scheduled at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This match marks the third time these two teams will clash in the tournament, with India having emerged victorious in the earlier encounters. However, the final presents a different scenario, with the title at stake and the associated pressure. The contest also features a compelling battle between India’s top-order batsmen and Pakistan’s pace duo of Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf. A key question looms: which bowler is likely to trouble India’s top three the most?
Focusing on India’s top three – Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav – let’s delve into the performances of Afridi and Rauf against them.
**Abhishek Sharma’s Battles**
In the Asia Cup 2025, Shaheen Shah Afridi has proven costly against Abhishek Sharma, conceding runs at a brisk pace. Against Afridi, Sharma has scored 31 runs off just 14 deliveries, striking at 221, including boundaries. Conversely, against Haris Rauf, Sharma has found it difficult to score, managing only one boundary and accumulating 11 runs off 9 balls.
**Shubman Gill’s Performance**
Shubman Gill has accumulated 62 runs off 53 balls against Shaheen in this Asia Cup, with a strike rate below 120, and an average of 31. He has been dismissed twice by Shaheen. Against Haris Rauf, Gill has scored 14 runs from 22 balls, being dismissed once.
**Suryakumar Yadav’s Confrontations**
Suryakumar Yadav, expected to bat at number 3 in the final, has faced Shaheen and managed to score 6 runs from 6 balls, with a majority being dot balls. Although he has not been dismissed by Shaheen, he has faced difficulties. Haris Rauf’s record against the Indian captain is significantly better. Rauf has dismissed Suryakumar Yadav three times while allowing only 11 runs from 10 deliveries.
The statistics reveal that Haris Rauf appears to be a greater threat than Shaheen Shah Afridi in the Asia Cup 2025 final. Rauf’s impact is evident in his wicket-taking tally. Having already claimed 9 wickets, he leads the tournament’s fast bowlers in this regard.