IND vs PAK / Will Shubman Gill be out of the playing-11, India vs Pakistan match again today

Having secured a hat-trick of wins in the Asia Cup, Team India will play its first Super-4 match today against arch-rivals Pakistan. In the group stage, India defeated Pakistan comprehensively by 7 wickets. The clash will be held at the Dubai International Stadium from 8 PM IST, with the toss scheduled for 7:30 PM. Both teams are geared up for this high-voltage encounter, and cricket fans are eagerly waiting.

No Handshake Controversy & Match Referee

The last India-Pakistan game hit headlines due to the “no handshake” controversy. Indian players had refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts in protest against the Pahalgam terror attack. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a complaint with match referee Andy Pycroft, who took no action. PCB then approached the ICC, demanding Pycroft’s removal from the tournament or at least from Pakistan’s matches. However, the ICC rejected both demands. Pycroft will once again officiate today’s match. In protest, Pakistan canceled their pre-match press conference yesterday.

Indian Team: Batting Concerns

Despite three consecutive wins, India’s batting form raises some concerns. No Indian batter has yet crossed the 100-run mark in the tournament. Opener Abhishek Sharma tops the chart with 99 runs, while vice-captain Shubman Gill has managed only 35 runs in three matches. Gill replaced Sanju Samson as opener, but Samson, in his only innings, scored 56—outperforming Gill.
The big question for the management is whether Gill gets another chance, or Samson returns to his original spot. Given Gill’s vice-captaincy, he may be granted one more opportunity.

Strategy Shift

Against Oman, India experimented by giving batting practice to players who hadn’t faced much time at the crease earlier. As a result, Samson batted at No. 3, and captain Suryakumar Yadav didn’t get to bat. However, India is unlikely to experiment in this high-stakes game. If Gill and Abhishek open, Surya will bat at No. 3, followed by Tilak Varma at No. 4, with Hardik Pandya, Samson, and Shivam Dube to follow depending on the situation.

Bowling Update

All-rounder Axar Patel’s injury remains a concern. If he is unavailable, pacer Harshit Rana or Arshdeep Singh may come in. In that case, Abhishek Sharma or Tilak Varma might have to share spin duties. Varun Chakravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah, who were rested against Oman, are set to return.

India’s Probable Playing XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel/Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

Pakistan’s Challenge

For Pakistan, this game is a true acid test of reputation, skill, and temperament. In the last encounter, they were dominated from start to finish. If they fail again, criticism will intensify. The handshake controversy has also affected the players mentally, and the team has largely avoided media interactions.

Batting Woes

Opener Saim Ayub has bagged three consecutive ducks, but his bowling performance (three wickets against India) may earn him another chance. Sahibzada Farhan is likely to open with him. If Ayub is dropped or moved down, Fakhar Zaman may open alongside Farhan.
In the last game against UAE, Pakistan fielded Khushdil Shah and Haris Rauf, who may feature again today.

Pakistan’s Probable Playing XI:
Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (C), Hasan Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

Even Record in Dubai

At the Dubai International Stadium, India and Pakistan have clashed four times in T20Is, with both winning two matches each. Pakistan won the 2021 T20 World Cup clash by 10 wickets. In the 2022 Asia Cup, both teams won one game apiece. In the current Asia Cup group stage, India beat Pakistan by 7 wickets. Interestingly, in all four encounters at this venue, the chasing side has emerged victorious.