When the two rival nations square off as the featured acts of the Asia Cup beginning this weekend, India’s Virat Kohli has the potential to regain form before the World Cup, while Babar Azam will try to maintain Pakistan’s psychological edge.

During the two weeks of the T20 competition in the United Arab Emirates, the two cricketing heavyweights India and Pakistan may face off three times. Political upheaval forced the six-nation competition to relocate from Sri Lanka, and it has extra relevance this year because the T20 World Cup in Australia, which will take place between October and November, is approaching quickly.

In the opening game on Saturday, Sri Lanka takes on Afghanistan, but all eyes will be on India and Pakistan’s matchup in Dubai on Sunday.

India will be hoping to avenge their 10-wicket humiliation by Pakistan at the same location during the T20 World Cup last year, and captain Rohit Sharma is doing his best to keep his team composed as fan anticipation and enthusiasm reach fever pitch.

“Everyone watches the game and it’s a high-pressure game without a doubt, but within the group we want to create a normal atmosphere. We don’t want to hype this game too much. It’s important to tell the players who haven’t played against Pakistan or played them just one or two times that it’s just another opposition.”

he told Star Sports.

Rahul Dravid, the head coach of India, nominated former batter VVS Laxman to serve in an interim leadership position late on Wednesday.

Shaheen injured

The game will mark Kohli’s 100th T20 international appearance and a chance for the legendary batsman to shake off his extended dry season before the World Cup. The 33-year-old hasn’t recorded a century in any format since 2019, but after receiving a rest for tours to the West Indies and Zimbabwe, he should be rested.

Rohit took over as all-format captain earlier this year, replacing Kohli, who has 27 hundreds in 102 Test matches. The success of Pakistan will mostly rest on its in-form captain Azam, who just scored two significant half-centuries in his team’s 3-0 ODI victory over the Netherlands.

Azam, 27, is ranked one in the world in both ODI and T20 batting, and his unbeaten 68 against India last year helped his team win.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, who destroyed India in the T20 tournament last year, has been replaced by Pakistan’s addition of pace bowler Mohammad Hasnain due to a knee injury.

Hong Kong, which defeated the UAE in the final qualifier on Wednesday, will join defending champions India, which won the last Asia Cup in 2018 when it was contested over 50 overs.

Group B includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

The top two teams from each group advance to a Super 4 stage, when India and Pakistan can face off once more. If both teams make it to the September 11 final, the great rivals might potentially face each other a third time.

Dasun Shanaka‘s Sri Lanka could ruin the party between India and Pakistan. They have had success in recent home series despite a terrible economic crisis, therefore they are capable of making it to the final.

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In the cricket-crazy island nation that has recently been plagued by food and fuel shortages as well as rolling blackouts, victory would offer some much-needed joy. With their star leg-spinner Rashid Khan, one of the best T20 bowlers in the world who can take advantage of and turn in the subcontinent-like UAE surfaces, Afghanistan has the power to upset any team.
With the World Cup drawing near, all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan‘s return to the team as captain has given Bangladesh a boost. He stated that improving the team’s performances was his top objective.