Former cricketer and commentator Akash Chopra played XI-Pakistan XI before the Asia Cup 2025 clash between two neighboring countries. In particular, the former opener did not include any Pakistani players in his selection and chose 11 Indian cricketers for the United XI.
India and Pakistan are set to meet in the sixth match of the Asia Cup at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, 14 September. Both teams have won a game in the tournament so far. It is worth noting that the winner of this encounter will protect a place in the Super Four Stage.
Watch: Akash Chopra chose joint-Pak playing XI
Next to the India-Pakistan struggle, Akash Chopra shared his joint XI on his Instagram account. He chose India’s vice-captain Shubman Gill and top ranked T20 i batter Abhishek Sharma as the initial pair, at number 3 with wicketkeeper-boss Sanju Samson.
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Chopra selected Team India captain Suryakumar Yadav at number 4 and the second place of ICC selected T20 Eye batter Tilak Verma at number 5. Verma has scored 749 runs in 24 innings, including two centuries and three half -centuries.
The world’s number 1 all -rounder, Hardik Pandya, was slot at number 6, followed by Shivam Dubey at number 7. Dube impressed the 3/4 figure in two overs during India’s Asia Cup opener against the United Arab Emirates. Spin-bouling all-rounder and Delhi Capital (DC) skipper Axar Patel was placed at number 8 in XI.
Akash Chopra chose Jasprit Bumrah as a loan frontline seamor
Akash Chopra consisted of India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakraborty, who has been in excellent form in the last one year. He has taken 34 wickets in 19 T20I, on an average of 14.26 and 6.88 economy rates.
Chopra also chose the left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who impressed India’s initial Asia Cup match against the United Arab Emirates. Kuldeep won the Player of the Match Award with a 4/7 figure in 2.1 overs.
The former opener included fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah to complete Xi. Bumrah has played 71 T20I for India, with a average of 17.75 and the strike rate 16.9 has 90 wickets.
Akash Chopra’s United India-Pakistan XI: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Varun Chakarwarthi, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumar.
What is India’s record against Pakistan in the Asia Cup in T20I format?
India has faced Pakistan only a few times in the Asia Cup T20 format. The tournament was played in the T20I format before the ongoing edition in 2016 and 2022.
India defeated Pakistan at the group phase in Mirpur in the 2016 Asia Cup in Bangladesh. Pakistan was excluded for only 83, in which Hardik Pandya took three wickets. India chased the target in 15.3 overs. Virat Kohli scored the top score for India, scoring 49 runs in 51 balls.
India and Pakistan met twice during the 2022 edition. India won five wickets in the group stage. Hardik Pandya chased 148 and scored 33* runs off 17 balls. He also took three wickets. However, Pakistan defeated India by five wickets in the Super Four Stage.
Also read: Virat Kohli’s absence makes India weak !! Repeated in the perspective of Pakistan
