India vs Pakistan: Why is Hardik Pandya not playing the IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2025 final? Check India playing 11
In a massive breaking news update, India's premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya is not playing the much-anticipated Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan being hosted at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. The Indian team have looked in an incredible form so far in this T20I tournament as they are currently unbeaten with brilliant wins over UAE, Pakistan, Oman, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Also, this is the first time in 41 years, it is an India vs Pakistan Asia Cup final.
Why is Hardik Pandya not playing the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 final?
After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav revealed the big news that Hardik Pandya is not part of the India playing XI in this finale clash against Pakistan on Sunday. Suryakumar further mentioned that their premier all-rounder misses out due to a niggle. Incidentally, after getting dismissed for just 2 runs off 3 balls in the first innings, Hardik bowled just a single over in the previous match against Sri Lanka. He was taken off the field after that one over and did not returned for the remainder of the IND vs SL game.
Hardik Pandya has scored only 48 runs from 4 innings so far in this edition of the Asia Cup 2025 at a strike-rate of 120 and taken as many as 4 wickets from 6 matches at an economy of 8.57. However, his absence in the IND vs PAK Finale is a vital blow for the Men in Blue. Surprisingly, India are also not playing the pace duo of Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh. This also means that the Indian team have Jasprit Bumrah as their solitary specialist fast bowler alongside seam bowling all-rounder Shivam Dube. In the absence of Hardik, Rinku Singh has been included in the India playing 11.
"We are looking to bowl first. It looks like a good wicket. The wicket gets better under lights. We have been batting well first but we would like to chase today. The groundsmen have done a terrific job with the wickets here and it will stay the same. The brand of cricket we have been playing for the last 5-6 games is pretty good and we would like to continue that. Unfortunately Hardik misses out due to a niggle, Arshdeep and Harshit also miss out. Bumrah, Dube and Rinku come in," stated Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav during the toss.
🚨 Toss & Playing XI🚨#TeamIndia won the toss and elected to bowl in the #Final 🙌
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 28, 2025
Here's tonight's Playing XI 👍
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/0VXKuKPkE2#AsiaCup2025 pic.twitter.com/tPSPz4uHBD
India playing 11
Abhishek Sharma
Shubman Gill
Suryakumar Yadav (c)
Tilak Varma
Shivam Dube
Sanju Samson (w)
Rinku Singh
Axar Patel
Kuldeep Yadav
Jasprit Bumrah
Varun Chakaravarthy
India squad for Asia Cup 2025
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana.
