Legendary cricketer Wasim Akram picked the Suryakumar Yadav-led side as the favourites ahead of their Asia Cup 2025 clash against Pakistan. Akram stated that Pakistan’s middle-order could struggle against India’s spin attack, featuring Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, in the upcoming fixture.
India started their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a nine-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates in Dubai on Wednesday, September 10. The Men in Blue will take on Pakistan in their next match at the same venue on Sunday. India is expected to field Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel.
India Are the Favourites – Wasim Akram on Asia Cup 2025 Clash
Wasim Akram said that India are the favourites for their upcoming clash against Pakistan. He added that spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav can unsettle batters with their variations.
Your daily dose of cricket!
“India are the favourites,” Akram said in a media interaction organised by Sony Sports Network.
“The problem I see for Pakistan is their middle-order batting versus India’s spinners. You can see off Jasprit Bumrah, but the likes of Varun and Kuldeep could trouble the batters. If a batter tries to read the ball after it has been pitched, it means you have no idea what is happening,” he added.
He Didn’t Return My Bat After That – Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram recalled one of the most memorable moments in India-Pakistan cricket history, when Javed Miandad struck a last-ball six off Chetan Sharma to break Indian hearts in the 1986 Austral-Asia Cup final.
Akram, who took three wickets in the match, said that he had played a part in Miandad’s heroics. He added that Miandad had used his bat for the iconic shot and never returned it.
“The great Javed Miandad used my bat. Thank you very much! He didn’t return my bat after that,” Wasim Akram said.
“Nobody knew at the time that you can hit a six off the last ball. Nowadays, it is very normal. In the mid 1980s, you hardly saw a six. It was just singles, twos and maybe a boundary now and then. As a 19-year-old, that match was just unbelievable. It is such a great memory for me. Of course, it was not good for India, or for my buddy, Chetan Sharma. But again, it was just a game of cricket,” he elaborated.
Kuldeep Yadav and Indian Bowlers Dismantle UAE Batting Line-Up
The Indian spinners dismantled the UAE batting order, as the Men in Blue bowled out the visitors for just 57 in 13.1 overs. Kuldeep Yadav picked up 4 wickets for 7 runs from 2.1 overs, including a three-wicket over. Varun Chakravarthy (1/4) and Axar Patel (1/13) claimed a wicket each.
India wrapped up the chase in just 4.3 overs. Openers Abhishek Sharma (30 off 16) and Shubman Gill (20* off 9) added a 48-run partnership in 3.5 overs. Gill and skipper Suryakumar Yadav guided the team to victory with 93 balls to spare.
Kuldeep has taken 73 wickets in 41 matches at an average of 13.4 and an economy rate of 6.72. Varun Chakravarthy has featured in 19 T20Is, picking up 34 wickets at an average of 14.26 with an economy rate of 6.88.
