Former Indian captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth believes Pakistan have no chance of winning against Team India in the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai on Sunday, September 28. India have beaten Pakistan in their last four T20I games, including twice in this tournament.

India are in great T20I form, winning 35 of their last 38 matches. But they struggled in their last Super Four match against Sri Lanka and won only in a Super Over.

Giving his prediction for the India-Pakistan final on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth said (21:50):

"I won’t give Pakistan even a 1% chance. You may ask what happened against Sri Lanka and how India almost lost. Don’t forget Jasprit Bumrah did not play that match. And Harshit Rana, who is an average bowler, played. He is just a film bowler. The Sri Lankan batters got confidence only after hitting him. There is a big difference between Bumrah and Harshit Rana."

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Srikkanth says India will crush Pakistan

Former opener Kris Srikkanth believes India will beat Pakistan easily in the Asia Cup 2025 final, even if star batter Abhishek Sharma does not score.

"India will absolutely clobber Pakistan. Yes, Abhishek Sharma is the main man for India. But people ask me what will happen if he fails. Even if he fails tomorrow, we have Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson, and Tilak Varma in good form. They can score runs," said Srikkanth.

He also added: "Pakistan are playing with Shaheen Afridi as their main batter. Even if Abhishek fails, Pakistan has no chance. But I don’t see Abhishek getting out early unless he throws his wicket away."

Abhishek Sharma has been the batter of the tournament with 309 runs in six matches. He averages over 51 and has a strike rate of 204.63.

Srikkanth on Bumrah’s bowling

Kris Srikkanth also spoke about India’s use of Jasprit Bumrah. He feels Bumrah should not bowl three overs in the powerplay.

"Bumrah has to be used in a 2+1+1 way. Two overs in the powerplay, then the 11th over, and then the 19th or 20th over. He should not bowl three in the powerplay. The problem is India play only two pacers, so they fear giving spinners the ball in the powerplay," Srikkanth said.

He added: "Against Pakistan, India should give the ball to spinners early. I don’t trust Axar Patel much in the powerplay compared to Kuldeep and Varun, because Axar bowls flat. But Axar can also get a wicket, as Pakistan may try to slog him. The theory that left-arm spinners can’t bowl to left-handers is wrong. Axar has taken many left-handers out in his career."

Bumrah has not been at his best in this Asia Cup, but he still has five wickets in four matches with an average of 22 and an economy of 7.33.

Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has backed explosive opener Abhishek Sharma to deliver a swashbuckling innings if he overcomes the early jitters in India’s crucial Asia Cup 2025 clash against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday, September 14. Both teams began the tournament on a high note, registering convincing wins against the UAE and Oman, respectively.

Abhishek gave fans a glimpse of his stroke-making ability during India’s chase against the UAE, scoring 30 off just 16 balls. The youngster has adapted seamlessly to T20Is, averaging over 33 at a strike rate of 193.49 across 18 matches, showcasing his ability to change games in a matter of deliveries.

On his YouTube channel, Srikkanth said, “He scored even against England. But we have to wait and see. I won't hype him up too much already. Though it happens to all attacking batters, he does occasionally mishit the short delivery on his body and get caught. Even in the IPL, he got out two or three times at square leg against that delivery. Pakistan will try bowling at his chest and into his body. But if he gets over the initial stage, Abhishek Sharma will smash the bowling.” Earlier this year, Abhishek also recorded the second-fastest T20I century by an Indian, reaching the milestone in 37 deliveries against England.

Srikkanth Questions India’s Batting Strategy Against Pakistan

Srikkanth also raised questions about India’s decision to go with eight specialist batters in the T20 format. In their opener against the UAE, India dropped all-time leading T20I wicket-taker Arshdeep Singh and played only three specialist bowlers—Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah—to extend their batting depth to No. 8.

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“I said Arshdeep should play in the first match itself. Does India need eight batters for playing 20 overs? Especially against a team like Pakistan, do you need eight batters? We don't even know if more than four batters will get an opportunity. The problem is everything has become spin-oriented and there is little assistance for medium pacers. Pakistan themselves have gone spin-heavy, dropping Haris Rauf,” Srikkanth said. In recent T20I encounters, India has won three out of the last five games against Pakistan, though Pakistan has claimed two of the three T20Is held in Dubai, the venue for the upcoming clash.

While the Indian team is ready to start their journey in the Asia Cup 2025, a former Indian captain and one of the heroes of the Indian cricket team that won the 1983 Cricket World Cup, is unhappy with the team and feels that the Men in Blues can't defend the Men's T20 World Cup trophy in the upcoming edition. 

Suryakumar Yadav-led India are ready for the Asia Cup 2025, which will be played in T20I format, a preparation for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which India and Sri Lanka will host in next year's February and March. Apart from co-hosting the next T20 World Cup, India will also defend the title, as they won the last T20 World Cup (2024) in West Indies and USA, which was their second T20 World Cup title after winning its inaugural edition in 2007. 

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There is no chance of winning the T20 World Cup with this bunch: Krishnamachari Srikkanth

Former Indian captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who was the highest run-scorer in India's victorious 1983 World Cup Final against West Indies, feels that India may win the upcoming Asia Cup, but they can't win the next T20 World Cup with this team.

Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel, “We might win the Asia Cup with this team, but there is no chance of winning the T20 World Cup with this bunch. Are you going to take this team to the World Cup? Is this the preparation for the T20 World Cup, which is hardly six months away?” 

While Indian Test captain and ODI vice-captain Shubman Gill has been included in the Asia Cup squad as a vice-captain, Srikkanth is unhappy with the vice-captaincy exclusion from the all-rounder Axar Patel. He is also unhappy with the selections of Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Harshit Rana.

Srikkanth questioned, “They have gone backwards. Axar Patel has been axed from vice-captaincy. I don’t know how Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Harshit Rana have come in. IPL is considered the main criterion for selection, but the selectors seem to have considered performances before that.” 

Who will bat at No. 5? 

The former Indian captain has questioned the no.5 batting position, while he is also disappointed with the non-inclusion of the Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Srikkanth added, “Who will bat at No. 5? Five has to be either Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma or Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh. Hardik Pandya usually bats at No. 5, so now, Axar cannot bat at six. I can’t understand how they picked Dube. Yashasvi Jaiswal has performed in international cricket and IPL as well. What does he do?” 

The former chief selector of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Kris Srikkanth, has slammed the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee and the T20I captain of the Blue Brigade, Suryakumar Yadav, for removing Axar Patel from the vice-captaincy for the Asia Cup 2025. He also questioned the presence of Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, and Shivam Dube.

Srikkanth has struggled to find a reason for the removal of vice-captaincy for Axar, who was in charge during the home five-match T20I series against England earlier this year. Shubman Gill replaced the left-arm spin all-rounder in that position, as Srikkanth also predicted that even if the national side went on to the Asia Cup 2025, they might not do the same with the T20 World Cup 2026.

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“We might win the Asia Cup with this team, but there is no chance of winning the T20 World Cup with this bunch. Are you going to take this team to the World Cup? Is this the preparation for the T20 World Cup, which is hardly six months away?” The former opening batter of India expressed on his YouTube channel.

Kris Srikkanth questions India’s decision to appoint Shubman Gill as vice-captain for Asia Cup 2025

In the press conference, Suryakumar added that Gill was always in the position of vice-captaincy. But they had to change it because the Punjab-born couldn’t play many T20Is due to the Champions Trophy 2025 and several other ODI and Test series, including the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 and recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy (ATT) 2025.

“They have gone backwards. Axar Patel has been axed from vice-captaincy. I don’t know how Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Harshit Rana have come in. IPL is considered the main criterion for selection, but the selectors seem to have considered performances before that.” The former Tamil Nadu opener reckoned.

India’s opening contest of the Asia Cup 2025 will be against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on September 10 before they lock horns with the arch-rivals, Pakistan, on September 14, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The former Indian opening batter and selector, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, has expressed a different opinion in selecting India’s openers for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 in the United Arab Emirates, starting from the second week of September. He suggested that Sanju Samson should not open the batting, given his struggles against the short ball.

Samson, who struggled during India’s home series against England earlier this year, has smashed 861 T20I runs in 38 innings, along with the number one T20I batter, Abhishek Sharma, who drilled 535 runs in 16 innings. Srikkanth, however, has backed the Punjab-born in the opening slot.

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“Sanju Samson was found wanting against the short ball against England. According to me, it’s doubtful that he will open. If I were a selector, Abhishek Sharma would be my No. 1 choice. No. 2, I would go for either Vaibhav Suryavanshi or Sai Sudharsan. I would have Vaibhav Suryavanshi in my 15-member T20 World Cup squad as well.” Kris Srikkanth expressed on his YouTube channel.  

Kris Srikkanth picks Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Sai Sudharsan for Asia Cup 2025

Srikkanth has gone with Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Sai Sudharsan as India’s two openers for the event. The former is the 14-year-old kid, who smashed 252 runs at a strike rate of 206.55 in his first season of IPL for Rajasthan Royals. Sudharsan, on the other hand, clubbed 759 runs in IPL 2025 at a strike rate of 156.17, with six half-centuries and one century.

“Sai Sudharsan is the Orange Cap holder. He has been doing very well, and Yashasvi Jaiswal as well. So, one of Sudharsan, Suryavanshi, or Jaiswal should open with Abhishek. That would be my choice. This is a very competitive world. The choice can be between Samson and Jitesh Sharma as the keeper-batter.” The former Tamil Nadu batter addressed during the interaction.

As of now, the selection committee is expected to pick Samson and Abhishek as the two openers, with Tilka Verma slotted at number three. There are reports of the Test captain, Shubman Gill, making a surprising inclusion in the squad. The selection committee will meet on August 19 to pick the 15-member squad.

The 38-year-old former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's comeback to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team wasn't a nice story in the IPL 2025. While Ashwin has reportedly requested CSK to get released ahead of the next IPL auction, former Indian cricketer and coach Krishnamachari Srikkanth opened up about it. 

Ravichandran Ashwin was the first CSK bowler to record 100 T20 wickets for the team. After serving for the IPL franchise between 2009 and 2015, when CSK won two IPL trophies and two Champions League T20 trophies, Ashwin returned to the franchise after nine years for the IPL 2025. In the IPL 2025 auction, CSK won his bid for INR 9.75 crore. 

While CSK struggled the entire IPL 2025, finishing in last position for the first time in the IPL season's history, Ravichandran Ashwin's performances were also unimpressive. The off-spinner only managed to take seven wickets in nine games and scored only 33 runs in four innings. 

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It will be a super move: Srikkanth on R Ashwin's CSK exit

In the rumours of Ashwin's possible CSK exit, Krishnamachari Srikkanth feels that it will be a good move for the franchise, as the big money can help to rebuild the team with the top-performing youngsters.

On his YouTube channel, Srikanth said, "Actually, I am with CSK, and if they do it, it will be a super move. I think they can muster up around 42 crores, and with the youngsters who performed well at the end of the season, they can form a good side."

They thought it was a good pick: Srikkanth

Srikkanth spoke about CSK's possible feelings about Ashwin's return, who is still the third leading wicket-taker for the franchise with 127 wickets. Then the former Indian cricketer spoke about the harsh reality of franchise cricket.

Srikkanth added, "They thought it was a good pick, but unfortunately, you've got to understand that it's franchise cricket at the end of the day and not Tamil Nadu cricket. Yes, all of us admire him for his records, he has done brilliantly for IPL, CSK, India, and Tamil Nadu. But that apart, you have to win championships. The last two years CSK have not qualified for the playoffs."

Apart from Ravichandran Ashwin from CSK, the Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson is also in the trending news, as he also reportedly wants to leave his franchise. CSK are reportedly interested in making a trade deal for Samson, but it is unlikely to happen.