After all debates regarding the India vs Pakistan Asia 2025 match because of the Pehalgam terror attack incident followed by Operation Sindoor, at Dubai International Stadium, two arch rivals faced off with each other. Both India and Pakistan are considered the favorites to win the tournament; India, regarding their recent performances, has an advantage over Pakistan on paper. In Dubai, India and Pakistan have met three times in Dubai, in T20Is, with Pakistan winning twice, including that memorable ten-wicket victory at the 2021 T20 World Cup, and during the 2022 Asia Cup Super 4s. Needless to say, above all stats, the rivalry can go beyond imaginations on the field. 

Toss Update:

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and decided to bat first. It is a no-brainer to understand why he chose to bat first. The surface of the Dubai International Stadium tends to be a little bit slow during the second wicket, with some possibilities of spin. Batters can face difficulties playing ambitious shots. India, with a spin-heavy lineup, will be trying to shackle the run rate of Pakistani batters. It'll be an interesting contest to watch. 

After winning the toss, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha said, "The team has been playing good cricket, and the atmosphere is exciting. The surface looks like a slow wicket, so the plan is to bat first and put runs on the board. The team has been here in Dubai for around 20 days and is well used to the conditions."

Read More: Star England player ruled out of Ireland series as board names replacement

"We are looking to bowl first. The preparations are good, and we are looking forward to this game. It was a nice wicket overall and better to bat under the lights. The climate is a bit humid, and we hope that the dew factor will come into play later." India captain Surya Kumar Yadav mentioned. 

Playing XIs:

India—Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah.

Pakistan—Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (WK), Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (C), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Abrar Ahmed.