India’s 1983 World Cup hero Madan Lal has zeroed in on young gun Abhishek Sharma and vice-captain Shubman Gill as the star performers who could lead Suryakumar Yadav’s team to victory in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan. The high-stakes cricket showdown kicks off in Dubai on Sunday, and Madan Lal believes this dynamic opening pair will be the key to success.
The Asia Cup has delivered non-stop thrills, especially with the intense India-Pakistan rivalry heating up. For three straight Sundays, these arch-rivals have clashed, but this time, the winner takes home the trophy. Both teams face massive pressure—India wants to avoid slipping up like in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, while Pakistan aims to finally topple the world champions and end their tough run against India.
Madan Lal, speaking to , emphasized that handling the nerves will decide the champion. “No one’s under real pressure, but finals always bring some tension. Pakistan feels it too—India isn’t alone here. The team that manages the stress best will lift the Asia Cup title,” he said.
Abhishek Sharma has stolen the show as India’s top run-scorer, smashing boundaries with fearless flair. Shubman Gill has complemented him perfectly at the top, forming a solid opening partnership. Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav has also shone brightly with the ball, keeping opponents in check. Madan Lal praised the youngsters, adding Tilak Varma to the mix for his solid contributions.
“Abhishek Sharma is a real match-winner,” Madan Lal noted. “He’s opened aggressively and scored quick runs, which eases things for the middle order. Shubman Gill has batted well alongside him, and Tilak Varma has stepped up too. That opening link from Abhishek and Gill is crucial—it lets the rest of the batting lineup keep the run rate on track.”
India’s squad for the Asia Cup final includes Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, and Rinku Singh.
Pakistan fields Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, and Sufyan Moqim.
Cricket fans around the world are buzzing about this India vs Pakistan Asia Cup final—will the Men in Blue claim the crown, or can Pakistan pull off an upset? Stay tuned for all the action from Dubai.
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