India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup-Super Four, Match 14 (A1 v A2) Dubai

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One of India's fielding drills has been to stare straight into the floodlights while the ball is in the air and then try to catch it. The idea is to "feel the panic" of losing sight of the ball and still believe that it's possible to complete the catch.

They have practiced the drill with old balls and new, and the principle has been the same across disciplines. They have shuffled batting orders to the extent of sending Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh ahead of captain Suryakumar, asked fast bowlers to patrol point and tossed the ball to part-timers in key phases.

Even the spinners have been rotated without a set pattern. The idea: rehearse chaos, inject randomness, be ready for whatever comes.

India have tried to rehearse the unpredictable but there are things you can't prepare for. Like the paraphernalia of an India-Pakistan game.

The noise that seeps in despite Suryakumar's best effort to cut it down by "70-80%" by deleting apps, closing the room, switching off the phone and going to sleep. The 20-30% that filters through is still overwhelming. This, T Dilip can't train the team for.

The last time these sides met in this Asia Cup, the cricket itself seemed secondary. Awkwardness lingered before the fixture, bitterness after it. Since then, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has carried its standoff with the ICC over Andy Pycroft, who remains the match referee for this Super Four fixture.

Team news:

India

After giving all batters and part-timers a run against Oman, India are set to revert to full strength, bringing back Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy. Varun was among the few to train on match eve, practicing his scrambled seam legbreaks and googlies against a set of stumps. The others at the training were Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, who bowled and batted and will be a key figure once again.

Injuries/Unavailability: Axar Patel, who struck his head while fielding in Abu Dhabi, is understood to be fine and available. No cover has been called.

Tactics & matchups: Samson and Tilak struggled against spin in Abu Dhabi, going 22 balls without a boundary. Their face-off with Abrar Ahmed will be crucial. The legspinner has bowled 70 balls in this Asia Cup and conceded just two boundaries.

Probable XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy

Pakistan

Against UAE, Pakistan recalled Haris Rauf and Khushdil Shah, leaving out Sufiyan Muqeem and Faheem Ashraf. That balance is expected to continue. Eyes will be on Saim Ayub, on a hat-trick of ducks, and Hasan Nawaz, who needs runs.

Injuries/Unavailability: No reported injuries since their last match.

Tactics & matchups: Kuldeep Yadav's record against Pakistan looms again. Fakhar Zaman (30 runs, 3 dismissals in 35 balls) and Salman Agha (6 runs, 2 dismissals in 12 balls) have both found him tough across formats.

Probable XI: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris(w), Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha(c), Khushdil Shah, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

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Players from the two teams have famously been friendly with each other on the field regardless of the relationship between the two nations. However, that was broken by the on-field coldness that was on display in the first match of this tournament between them. It remains to be seen whether this will continue to be the case in the Super 4 as well.

IND vs PAK Live Score Updates: Head-to-Head

Head-to-head

Overall Matches: 14
India won: 11
Pakistan won: 3
Last 5 matches results: IND won – 4, PAK won – 1
Last meeting: India won by 7 wickets, Dubai (September 14, 2025)

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PCB Cancel Pre-Match Press Conference
Just like they did before the UAE clash, Pakistan Cricket Board has cancelled their pre-match press conference ahead of the blockbuster match against India.

Hardik Pandya Sends Message To Team India
Hardik Pandya sent a message to team India before the big clash against Pakistan. “On the 21st of September, it’s just another game. Let’s play the game when it’s played, not before it. Good luck, guys," he said.

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Sunil Gavaskar Slams PCB For Press Conference Gimmick
Sunil Gavaskar slammed PCB for cancelling press conference before the India clash. “I don’t know what the thinking behind that is, but as far as I know, press conferences are mandatory. If teams don’t hold them, I’m not sure what the penalties are—if any—but in today’s world, it’s important for the media to be involved and kept informed. It’s still essential to maintain open communication with the media. Instead of relying on ‘sources’ or speculation, it’s always better for teams to convey their point of view directly. Perhaps Pakistan feel they have nothing to share, which, frankly, isn’t surprising,” Gavaskar told India Today.

Andy Pycroft Appointed Match Referee
Andy Pycroft found himself on radar of PCB after the handshake controversy during the India vs Pakistan group stage game, but the ICC has backed him, and even made a statement to PCB by appointing him the match referee for the India vs Pakistan match.

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No Off Day For Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill hasn't set the stage on fire so far in the Asia Cup, and he'll be keen to make things right against Pakistan. The Test skipper is leaving no stone unturned to find his mojo back and opted for an optional training session a day before the match.

Weather Report
The conditions have been very hot and humid and it has taken a toll on players. The players will face another hot day in Dubai as the temperature is set to reach 37 degrees on the match day.

Head To Head
India have dominated Pakistan in T20Is. Out of the 14 games played between the two teams, India have won 11 games while Pakistan fetched wins in three matches.

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'Pakistan Have Humiliated Themselves' - Atul Wassan
Atul Wassan said that PCB humiliated themselves after dragging Andy Pycroft in the handshake controversy against India. More than cricket, the talk about off the field stuff has taken place. It was bound to happen since a India vs Pakistan match is not just a match. But that time has gone when India used to make a "haua" (hype) out of Pakistan because we have progressed much ahead, are financially sound and ruling the sport. Our team is playing well, and our ecosystem is good. So we are happy with ourselves.

"But I think, Pakistan still has that "haua" because they think if they lose, there would be a big issue. But in India, people have matured a lot, and for them, it is just a game. But in the current scenario, this is a touchy topic. We all had a big discussion on if the match should happen and now it has happened, we showed our anger. And the way they (PCB) reacted, I had fun watching it because 'khisiyani billi khamba noche'. They have humiliated themselves.