India will face Pakistan in the 6th match of the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday, September 14, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.
India began their Asia Cup campaign with a bang, defeating UAE in the tournament opener. India have won nine T20Is, while Pakistan has won three. Pakistan have won the Asia Cup twice. They recently defeated Afghanistan and the UAE in a tri-series.
Here are the top 3 player battles to watch out for in match 6 of the Asia Cup 2025:
1. Abhishek Sharma vs Shaheen Afridi

Abhishek Sharma is one of the most exciting batters in T20Is in this era. His penchant for taking on the best bowlers has brought freshness to India’s new-age batting lineup, and he has not let the fans miss Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli. Abhishek has scored 565 runs at a strike rate of 193.49 in 18 T20Is, evidence of him giving India flying starts almost every time he goes out to bat.
However, Shaheen Afridi of Pakistan will be a huge challenge for Abhishek. Afridi has taken 108 wickets at an economy of 7.75 in 86 T20Is. His routing of India’s top order in the 2021 T20 World Cup match is fresh in every fan’s memory, and since this game will also be played in Dubai, the left-armer will be expected to do the same.
2. Suryakumar Yadav vs Haris Rauf

Suryakumar Yadav has become one of the all-time greats in T20Is in just five years of his career. He has invented new shots and made batting exciting for the Indian team and fans. Suryakumar has scored 2605 runs at a strike rate of 167.30 in 84 T20Is, with a record four centuries to his name. His array of shots puts the opposition under pressure right away.
Haris Rauf is the leading bowler for Pakistan in T20Is with 124 wickets at an economy of 8.34 an. Rauf has express pace, and he has shown he can disrupt the batter’s rhythm with ease. He also has some mean yorkers, and Suryakumar would need to be vigilant against his pace and bounce.
3. Saim Ayub vs Jasprit Bumrah

Saim Ayub has been compared with the likes of Saeed Anwar and other aggressive batters of Pakistani cricket. The youngster has made a name for himself, having scored 816 runs at a strike rate of 136.22 in 42 T20Is. He has brought freshness to Pakistan’s batting, which was on its last legs. His no-look flick against pacers and ability to attack spinners set him apart.
But his biggest challenge will be Jasprit Bumrah. The ace Indian pacer, Player of the Tournament in India’s T20 World Cup win, has returned to the T20I fold with ample rest after the England Tests. He has taken 90 wickets at an economy rate of 6.27 in 71 T20Is and gives the captain the freedom to bowl him at the start, in the middle overs, and at the death. If Bumrah can dismiss Ayub early, Pakistan might struggle to gain momentum.
Top 3 performances of Shikhar Dhawan in IPL
ILT20 2025: Predicting Desert Vipers XI for match 4
Top 3 performances of Shikhar Dhawan in ODIs
ILT20 2025: Predicting top 3 player battles for match 4

