The Asia Cup 2025 is fast approaching, with the tournament set to take place in the UAE. The competition starts on September 9th and will conclude with the final on September 28th. The anticipation is high, especially for the matches between India and Pakistan. This edition will be held in the UAE, just like in 2022. The tournament will be played in the T20 format, the same as the previous edition held in the UAE three years back. The focus will undoubtedly be on the India-Pakistan matches.
The first India-Pakistan match in the Asia Cup will be on September 14th. Both teams are in Group A, and will likely play each other in the Super-4 round. A final match between the two teams is also possible. The current form of the Indian team seems to be superior, having had a good run in the past year. Pakistan’s performance has been inconsistent. The venue for the matches is important as well. All matches between the two teams will be played at the Dubai International Stadium.
In the past, Pakistan has had a slight advantage in Dubai. Out of three T20 matches played between India and Pakistan at this stadium, Pakistan has won two and India one. In the Asia Cup three years ago, India and Pakistan won one match each. Pakistan’s additional win was in the 2021 T20 World Cup, their first win over India in a World Cup. The Indian team did not make it to the final in that World Cup and the Asia Cup.
It is likely that the T20 format and the UAE location might not favor India. However, the Indian team under Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir has shown resilience. The team has defeated many teams in the last year. India is a strong contender for the title.