International Cricket ⇒ Top 6 Duels to Watch in India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025

[Em Vicky Khan]

Whenever India and Pakistan face each other, individual battles often decide the outcome rather than just team strength. The Asia Cup 2025 clash will be no different. This match is loaded with potential game-changing duels — batsman vs bowler contests, finishers vs death bowlers, and captaincy decisions under pressure. In this article, we break down the top six player battles that could determine the result.

Duel 1: Shaheen Afridi vs India’s Openers (Shubman Gill & Abhishek Sharma)

Shaheen Afridi is Pakistan’s strike weapon in the powerplay. His ability to swing the new ball at high pace has troubled Indian openers in the past — especially the memorable 2021 T20 World Cup spell where he removed both KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma cheaply. In 2025, India’s new opening pair, Gill and Abhishek, will have the tough task of surviving Shaheen’s first two overs.

Key factors:

Shaheen’s natural inswing to the right-hander Gill.

Abhishek’s aggressive approach — will he attack or play cautiously?

Early wickets can put India under massive pressure.

Duel 2: Jasprit Bumrah vs Babar Azam

Babar Azam is Pakistan’s best batter and the glue that holds the innings together. Bumrah, meanwhile, is India’s most lethal bowler across phases. This contest is likely to be the most crucial one of the night. If Bumrah dismisses Babar early, Pakistan could struggle to post a competitive total.

Key factors:

Bumrah’s yorkers and slower balls in powerplay.

Babar’s ability to rotate strike and build an innings.

Past record: Bumrah has dismissed Babar twice in T20Is, but Babar averages over 40 against India overall.

Duel 3: Kuldeep Yadav vs Mohammad Rizwan

Kuldeep’s wrist spin will be India’s trump card in the middle overs. Rizwan has been Pakistan’s most consistent scorer in T20 cricket but tends to play cautiously against quality spin.

Key factors:

Kuldeep’s googly and drift.

Rizwan’s ability to sweep and play behind square.

Wickets in the middle overs can derail Pakistan’s chase.

Duel 4: Suryakumar Yadav vs Shadab Khan

SKY is known for his fearless 360-degree stroke play, while Shadab is Pakistan’s most experienced spinner. This duel will be about who blinks first — will SKY continue to attack, or will Shadab trick him into a false shot?

Key factors:

Shadab’s variations and ability to bowl at crucial times.

SKY’s strike rate of 170+ in middle overs.

A quick 30 from SKY could swing momentum completely.

Duel 5: Hardik Pandya vs Haris Rauf

When it comes to death overs, Hardik Pandya’s finishing ability and Haris Rauf’s yorkers create one of the most exciting match-ups in world cricket.

Key factors:

Hardik’s power hitting down the ground.

Rauf’s pace (150+ km/h) and deceptive slower ball.

This battle could decide whether India posts 160 or 190.

Duel 6: Naseem Shah vs Rishabh Pant

Naseem’s nagging line-and-length combined with Pant’s unorthodox strokeplay is a recipe for drama.

Key factors:

Pant’s aggressive intent vs Naseem’s discipline.

Naseem’s outswing to left-handers.

Pant’s ability to disrupt bowlers by stepping out.

Why These Duels Matter

In a high-pressure game like India vs Pakistan, one big partnership or one spell of magic can decide the result. If Shaheen wins the battle upfront, Pakistan will dominate. If Kohli and SKY take control in middle overs, India will set or chase down a big total. These six duels together form the backbone of this match’s narrative.

Prediction Based on Duels

If Shaheen, Naseem, and Rauf combine to take 5+ wickets, Pakistan’s chances improve drastically.

If Bumrah and Kuldeep dismiss Babar and Rizwan early, India will likely win comfortably.

Overall prediction: Match will remain close till the last few overs. Slight edge to India because of batting depth and better finisher options.