Kuldeep Yadav’s Coach Shares Key Tips for India vs Pakistan Clash in Asia Cup
As the excitement builds for the India vs Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025, Kuldeep Yadav’s childhood coach, Kapil Pandey, has some straight-talking advice for Team India. Speaking from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Pandey stressed that while India boasts a powerhouse squad, overconfidence could spell trouble against their arch-rivals.
"Our team is super strong, but we can’t get complacent," Pandey told . "We have to win this India vs Pakistan game at any cost." The match, set for today at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, kicks off at 8:00 pm IST and is India’s second Group A fixture in the ongoing Asia Cup.
Pandey zeroed in on batting strategies to help India post a solid total. He wants openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill to fire on all cylinders right from the start. "Our batsmen like Abhishek and Shubman need to give us a flying start," he said. Middle-order stars Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, captain Suryakumar Yadav, and all-rounder Hardik Pandya should then build on that with steady singles and doubles, aiming for around 250 runs in this 20-over thriller.
But Pandey didn’t stop there. If India bowls first, he urged the bowlers to choke Pakistan to 150 runs or less. "We’ve got world-class pacers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh, plus spinners like Kuldeep Yadav and the new talent Akashdeep," he added. "Our bowling attack is rock-solid."
For the game plan, Pandey advised staying sharp in the first 10 overs before ramping up the run rate from overs 11 to 20. And a special shoutout to his star pupil: "Kuldeep, just like you grabbed five wickets against Pakistan in the last Asia Cup, I want you to repeat that magic today!" He reminded everyone that cricket in India is more than a sport—it’s like a religion. "The whole nation is watching, and it’s our team’s duty to win and light up Diwali early for the fans."
Meanwhile, the buzz isn’t just in Kanpur. In Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, cricket fans gathered for an aarti and special prayers, seeking victory for Team India. One enthusiastic supporter said, "Just like our army beats Pakistan’s, we expect our cricket team to dominate one-sidedly. Pakistan can’t match our skills—it’s Operation Sindoor 2!"
Not everyone is cheering, though. The match has sparked backlash from families of the Pahalgam terror attack victims, who lost 26 lives. They slammed the government for going ahead with the India-Pakistan cricket showdown, saying the news left them heartbroken and disturbed.
Opposition voices echoed the pain. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi questioned the BCCI’s decision to play, asking, "When the PM said blood and water can’t flow together, or dialogue and terror can’t mix, how can we prioritize cricket money over our 26 citizens’ lives? One match could earn Rs 2,000-3,000 crore—is cash worth more than their sacrifice?" Owaisi vowed to stand by the victims’ families.
As the Asia Cup 2025 heats up, all eyes are on this high-stakes India vs Pakistan encounter. Will Team India deliver the win the nation craves? Stay tuned!
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