The stage is set for the Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan, to be held on Sunday in Dubai. The stakes are at an all-time high, as this final isn't just about who lifts the trophy—it's about pride, dominance, and a legacy. India and Pakistan, who share a complex and strained relationship, only meet in world tournaments, and their cricketing duels are charged with the kind of emotion and intensity that few other sporting events can match. When these two teams meet, their supporters don’t just watch—they live every moment. The match on Sunday marks the first India vs Pakistan final in the Asia Cup. Pakistan have suffered two defeats in the tournament, and those came against the arch-rival India.

Earlier in the tournament, India delivered a dominant performance against Pakistan in the group stage, crushing their arch-rivals by seven wickets in a show of ruthless cricket. But it was what followed that added fuel to the already heightened tensions between the neighbouring nations; India's players reportedly refused to engage in the traditional post-match handshakes. While no official explanation was provided, the move was widely seen as a snub, triggering debates over sportsmanship. Pakistan’s camp reacted with visible disappointment, calling it poor spirit.

Either way, it only added fuel to an already raging fire. Tempers frayed in their second meeting in the Super Four, with Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf gaining the spotlight. Haris Rauf made a military-style gesture towards the Indian fans, signalling the downing of aircraft. Sahibzada Farhan also made a provocative gesture, celebrating his fifty with a gun-like gesture. Both were later pulled up by the ICC.

India have stormed into the final undefeated, crushing every opponent with obvious dominance. With a top-order, led by six-hitting machine Abhishek Sharma, firing on all cylinders and a bowling attack that has delivered under high-pressure situations, India enter the final as clear favourites to retain the Asia Cup title. Notably, if India are a juggernaut, Pakistan are a wildcard, unpredictable and capable of turning games on their head. Despite the group stage setback, Pakistan rallied in the knockout rounds, showing grit and relentless determination to make it to the final. They will be gunning for revenge with two heartbreaks against India.

Head to head (T20I)

Matches - 15

IND won - 12

PAK won - 3

No result - 0

India possible XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

Pakistan possible XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Agha (c), Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Haris (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed