'Kids Won’t Know Pakistan’s...' – Former Indian cricketer’s bold statement ahead of Asia Cup 2025 IND-PAK clash
Nikhil Chopra says the current Pakistan T20 squad lacks fan recognition compared to the ’90s and predicts India holds the edge in their Asia Cup 2025 clash.
Be a winner today!
Get the latest cricket updates, Join our community
Former India cricketer Nikhil Chopra has observed that the current Pakistan squad does not enjoy the same recognition among fans as it did in the 1990s. His remarks come ahead of the much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2025, scheduled for Sunday, September 14, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Speaking to NDTV, the 51-year-old highlighted the depth of both sides, noting that India is finding it challenging to accommodate players like Yashasvi Jaiswal in their squad, while even avid T20 followers might struggle to name Pakistan’s top players today.
Chopra said, “And no disrespect to the Pakistan side, but if you look at their team and ask any kid on the streets to name their top three or top four players, some of these kids, even die-hard cricket fans who follow the T20 format, won’t know the names. But if you ask them about the ’90s cricket heroes from Pakistan, they’ll remember.”
India’s Strength, Dew Factor Could Play a Role
He added, “The difference is, when you look at the 11 or you look at the 15 for India, there are match winners, experienced players, and world-beating stars. The Indian team, whether you view it from an IPL perspective or in terms of T20 performances, is stacked with talent. Somebody like Yashasvi Jaiswal has not even got an opportunity in the 15, so you can imagine the good headache Ajit Agarkar and the rest of the team management have.”
Chopra also pointed out that dew might favor India, as Pakistan could struggle with their four-spinner attack. “You might see some subtle dew, and if there is subtle dew, then, you know, I won’t be surprised if Team India would want to go out there and chase just to make sure that the ball will skid on, and then the spinners find it really tough to get any sort of turn on that surface. And if they are (Men in Green) playing just that one medium-pacer, they’ll find it even tougher with the four spinners that they’re looking to play. If there’s dew, it’ll be tougher for them. It is 70-30 in favor of India,” he added.
Historically, the two teams have met in 13 T20Is, with India dominating the head-to-head record, winning nine matches, while Pakistan has claimed three victories, and one game ended in a tie.
Tags:
