India-Pakistan combined XI announced; no Pakistan player included

Former cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra picked a combined India-Pakistan playing XI ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 clash between the two neighboring nations. Notably, the former opener did not include any Pakistani players in his selection and chose 11 Indian cricketers for the combined XI.

India and Pakistan are set to meet in the sixth match of the Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, September 14. Both teams have won one game each in the tournament so far. It is worth mentioning that the winner of this encounter will secure a spot in the Super Fours stage.

Watch: Aakash Chopra Picks Combined IND-PAK Playing XI

Ahead of the India-Pakistan clash, Aakash Chopra shared his combined XI on his Instagram account. He picked India’s vice-captain Shubman Gill and top-ranked T20I batter Abhishek Sharma as the opening pair, with wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson at No.3.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Chopra selected Team India captain Suryakumar Yadav at No.4 and ICC’s second-ranked T20I batter Tilak Varma at No.5. Varma has scored 749 runs in 24 innings, including two centuries and three fifties.

Hardik Pandya, the world’s No. 1 all-rounder, was slotted at No.6, followed by Shivam Dube at No.7. Dube impressed with figures of 3/4 in two overs during India’s Asia Cup opener against the UAE. Spin-bowling all-rounder and Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Axar Patel was placed at No.8 in the XI.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)

Aakash Chopra Picks Jasprit Bumrah as the Lone Frontline Seamer

Aakash Chopra included India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who has been in excellent form over the past year. He has taken 34 wickets in 19 T20Is at an average of 14.26 and an economy rate of 6.88, including two five-wicket hauls.

Chopra also picked left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who impressed in India’s opening Asia Cup match against the UAE. Kuldeep won the Player of the Match award with figures of 4/7 in 2.1 overs.

The former opener included fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah to complete the XI. Bumrah has played 71 T20Is for India, taking 90 wickets at an average of 17.75 and a strike rate of 16.9.

Aakash Chopra’s combined India-Pakistan XI: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah.

What Is India's Record Against Pakistan in the Asia Cup in the T20I Format?

India have faced Pakistan in the Asia Cup T20 format only a few times. The tournament was played in T20I format in 2016 and 2022 before the ongoing edition.

India defeated Pakistan in the group stage at Mirpur in the 2016 Asia Cup in Bangladesh. Pakistan were bowled out for just 83, with Hardik Pandya taking three wickets. India chased down the target in 15.3 overs. Virat Kohli top-scored for India, with 49 off 51 balls.

India and Pakistan met twice during the 2022 edition. India won by five wickets in the group stage. Hardik Pandya scored 33* off 17 balls while chasing 148. He also took three wickets. However, Pakistan beat India by five wickets in the Super Four stage.

Also read: Virat Kohli's absence makes India weak!! Pakistan perspective revealed