[Editor’s Note: Khaleej Times is live from Dubai’s ring of fire, reporting on the India-Pakistan Asia Cup final. Stay updated with our live blog.]
India’s standout all-rounder Hardik Pandya is on the brink of making history in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan.
Pandya needs just two more wickets to reach 100 T20 international wickets, becoming only the second Indian bowler to achieve this milestone.
Currently at 98 wickets, Pandya trails behind star pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has 101 wickets. Pandya has played 120 matches to take 98 wickets, averaging 26.58 with an economy rate of 8.22, with his best figures being 4/16.
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In the current T20 Asia Cup, Pandya has claimed four wickets in six matches, averaging 30.00 with an economy of 8.57, and his best figures being 1/7.
Afghanistan’s spinner Rashid Khan leads the T20I wicket-takers with 173 wickets in 103 matches, averaging 13.93, with best figures of 5/3, including eight four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls.
In the highly anticipated final, India will face off against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 28 at the Dubai International Stadium in the 2025 Asia Cup final.
This marks the first-ever Asia Cup final between India and Pakistan in the tournament’s 41-year history, promising an exhilarating clash. India has already beaten Pakistan twice in this year’s Asia Cup.
In the group stage, India overpowered Pakistan with a seven-wicket win, thanks to Kuldeep Yadav’s stellar 3/18 performance. During the Super 4s, Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 74 off 39 balls dismantled Pakistan’s bowling, leading India to a decisive six-wicket victory.
Squads:
India Squad: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (w), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube
Pakistan Squad: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (w), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Salman Mirza, Hasan Nawaz, Sufiyan Muqeem.
