India and Pakistan are set to renew their rivalry in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup on Sunday, with tension running higher than usual after the storm sparked by last weekend’s no-handshake episode. The two sides meet at the Dubai International Stadium in a clash that has already been billed as a “grudge match” by the opposition camp.
The flashpoint came after India’s seven-wicket victory last Sunday, when skipper Suryakumar Yadav and his players chose not to exchange post-match pleasantries with their rivals, a decision that ignited heated debates across cricketing circles. It is understood that the Indian side is unlikely to deviate from that stance this weekend, setting the stage for another frosty encounter.
On the field, however, Suryakumar carries a triple burden, India’s batting mainstay, tactical thinker and national ambassador, as he prepares to lead his side against a faltering Pakistan outfit.
India’s spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy will once again be central to their plans, especially with the Dubai pitch offering plenty of assistance to slower bowlers. Kuldeep already has eight wickets in the tournament, while Varun and Axar provide variety and control. Should Axar be ruled out after his recent head injury scare while trying to take a catch against Oman, India may summon Washington Sundar or Riyan Parag as cover. However, fielding coach T Dilip is hopeful that the all-rounder should be fine.
The return of Jasprit Bumrah, who sat out the Oman fixture alongside Varun, further strengthens India’s attack. His presence alone tends to lift the energy in the camp. Against Oman, the Indian team management went with Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana to assess their prowess but both failed to dominate even against relatively lesser-known Oman batters Aamir Kaleem and Hammad Mirza.
On the batting front, runs from Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube remain a missing piece, though India’s top order has the quality to dominate Pakistan’s inconsistent bowling unit.
Pakistan, by contrast, look unusually brittle. The unpredictability once celebrated as their strength has given way to fragile batting. Fakhar Zaman remains their most reliable hope, while Shaheen Shah Afridi has unexpectedly emerged as one of their more determined batters.
Opener Saim Ayub’s hat-trick of ducks have turned him into a punchline at home, with critics quipping that his wickets have outnumbered his runs. Haris Rauf’s fiery spell against the UAE, however, could earn him a place ahead of a third spinner.
India, meanwhile, are unlikely to tinker much with their batting order. Sanju Samson may make way for Suryakumar at No. 3 if Gill falls early, while Tilak Varma could slot in should Abhishek Sharma depart in the powerplay.
With the series of controversies spilling off the field and two teams chasing a spot in the final, Sunday’s game is poised to be more than just another chapter in this rivalry.
Handshakes may again be missing, but the intensity certainly won’t in an India-Pakistan contest.
Squads:
India: Suyakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Sufyan Moqim.