Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first in the high-voltage clash at Dubai. The decision set the tone for an electrifying contest as fans packed the stadium hours before the start.
Gambhir’s Pep Talk Before Toss
Before the toss, live visuals showed India coach Gautam Gambhir addressing his players in a huddle. With Suryakumar Yadav walking out to the middle, Gambhir offered key advice. His message was likely about staying calm, managing pressure, and using the energy of the crowd in the right way.
Buzz Builds Ahead of First Ball
Excitement around the Dubai stadium grew rapidly. The gates had opened three hours earlier, and fans from both nations filled the stands, waving flags and chanting. The build-up was intense, and the clash promised to deliver drama from the first ball.
With Pakistan batting first and India ready to chase, the stage was perfectly set for one of the biggest games of the Asia Cup 2025. The rivalry, the atmosphere, and the stakes made it an unmissable showdown.
Why Pakistan choose to bat first?
“Going to bat first. We’ve been playing good cricket, very excited. Looks like a slow wicket. Just want to bat first and put runs on the board. Same side. Have been here for 20-odd days and are used to the conditions,” said Pakistan captain Salman Agha.
India is Happy to bowl first
“We were looking to bowl first, happy with it. We played just one strip away, which was a nice wicket and better to bat on in the night. It’s humid, so hoping for some dew. Same team,” said India skipper Suryakumar Yadav.
Playing XIs Announced
Both sides confirmed unchanged line-ups for this crucial match.
India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (w), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy
Pakistan (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (w), Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed
