Both India and PAK have their second game of the tournament against each other
The Asia Cup 2025 is in progress, and there is no doubt that all eyes are on India and PAK, the two teams who are arch-rivals. Both teams have their second game of the tournament against each other. India got off to a great start against the host UAE, and the story was no different in the PAK dugout, who won against Oman in their tournament opener.
However, unlike the first match of both teams, the second match is tough because it can go either way. Currently, it is extremely difficult to predict the outcome of the game. However, a statistical comparison of the top-order batters of the two sides is what we have compiled in the following paragraphs.
The Indian top order comprises Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav.
Let us begin with Abhishek Sharma, who has only 18 international T20 games up his sleeve. In these 18 games, Sharma scored 565 runs at an average of 33.23 while maintaining a strike rate of 193.49.
(Credit: Mint)
Moving on to Shubman Gill, he too has limited experience playing T20Is, with only 22 games under his belt. 598 runs scored in those matches give us an average of 31.47 and a strike rate of 141.03.
Finally, Suryakumar Yadav comes in at third as one of the most experienced and ferocious T20 players on the team. He has played 84 games so far, scoring 2605 runs at an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 167.30.
(Credit: The Bridge)
Compared to India, PAK’s opening duo comprises Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub. Farhan has played only 20 games, but his average is a poor 18.30, with a strike rate of 130.34.
Saim Ayub brings more experience to the table with 41 matches, but the rest of the numbers are no better. In 41 games, he scored 816 runs at an average of 22.05 and a strike rate of 136.45.
PAK may have Salman Agha or Fakhar Zaman in third place. Like Suryakumar, Zaman is an experienced batter with 102 matches, but his average stands at 23.37, and his strike rate is 132.24.
Even Salman Agha has an average of 27.16 and a strike rate of 116.42 from the 25 matches he has played so far.
On paper, India certainly has the better numbers compared to PAK’s top order.
(Credit: Mint)
Head-to-head in T20s, India and PAK have played each other in 13 matches, out of which India won 10, whereas PAK won three, out of which two came in Dubai. And as far as the Asia Cup is concerned, head-to-head, the two nations have played 19 games against each other, with India winning 10 and PAK registering six wins, whereas three games were abandoned.
Overall, in papers and in the past years, India has maintained an upper hand over PAK.
