 "Hardik Pandya is not playing the Asia Cup final against Pakistan. Image: Reuters")
All-rounder Hardik Pandya missed out of India’s playing XI for Sunday’s 2025 Asia Cup final against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India captain Suryakumar Yadav, who won the toss and chose to bowl first, confirmed that Hardik will not play the summit clash against bitter rivals Pakistan.
SKY said that Hardik has been left out to due to a “niggle.” He confirmed that Rinku Singh has been added to the playing XI in place of Hardik. “Unfortunately Hardik misses out due to a niggle. Arshdeep and Harshit also miss out. Bumrah, Dube, and Rinku come in,” India skipper said at the toss.
Why is Hardik not playing?
Hardik Pandya picked up the injury in India’s last Super 4 game against Sri Lanka on Friday. He batted and scored just 2 runs off 3 balls in the first innings and then opened the bowling in the second innings, taking the wicket of opener Kusal Mendis for a golden duck.
However, Hardik walked back to the dressing room immediately after finishing his first over and did not take any further part in the match. India eventually won the match after a tie and a Super Over.
As far as the final between India and Pakistan is concerned, SKY won the toss and elected to bowl first. The Indian skipper once again skipped handshake with his Pakistani counterpart at the toss. Meanwhile, there were two different hosts at the toss for the two captains, with Ravi Shastri speaking to SKY and Waqar Younis speaking to Salman Agha.
India vs Pakistan playing XIs
India’s playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy
Pakistan’s playing XI: Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha (c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed