Match Overview

• Fixture: India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2025 (T20), Group A
• Date & Time: Sunday, 14 September · 8:00 PM IST (toss 7:30 PM IST)
• Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE
• Local Time: 6:30 PM UAE

This is the highest-profile fixture of the group stage, with live build-ups and on-ground updates running throughout the day from Dubai.

How to Watch India vs Pakistan Live (India)

• TV: Sony Sports Network (English: Ten 1/Ten 5; Hindi: Ten 3; select regional feeds like Tamil/Telugu on Ten 4). DD Sports carriage varies by DTT/cable—check your EPG.
• Streaming (India): SonyLIV (official digital stream).

Tip: Open the app five minutes before the toss; big matches often trigger surge logins.

Probable Playing XIs (to be confirmed at toss)

India (predicted): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

Pakistan (predicted): Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Agha Salman (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed.

Final XIs land at the toss (7:30 PM IST). Keep an eye on last-minute fitness/role swaps.

Form Guide, Stakes & Head-to-Head

India arrive with a thumping opening win over UAE and the deeper balance across phases—new ball, spin choke in the middle, and elite death options. Pakistan brushed aside Oman in their opener and will bank on early breakthroughs and spin to stay in control.

In the Asia Cup head-to-head, India hold a historic edge, which frames tonight’s expectations.

Beyond cricket, the game sits inside a charged backdrop this week, but players and coaches on both sides have consistently urged a focus on the cricket. Live blogs and ground reports reflect that sentiment even as the stands fill.

Pitch & Conditions: Dubai Night Game

Dubai’s T20 night surfaces are typically true for stroke-play early, then slow a touch through the middle overs—ideal for wrist-spin and change-ups. Dew can appear but is usually manageable; par often sits around 165–180 if batting first. Previews today again spotlight spin as a central theme (Kuldeep/Varun vs Abrar/Muqeem/Nawaz).

India’s levers:

• Dual wrist-spin (Kuldeep + Varun) for wickets between overs 7–15.
• Bumrah’s death control; Hardik/Dube as flexible seam options.
• Top-order tempo from Gill/Abhishek to negate Shaheen early.

Pakistan’s path:

• Shaheen Afridi with the new ball to dent India’s top two.
• Stacking Nawaz/Abrar/Muqeem if the surface grips.
• Fakhar as a left-hand disruptor against leg-spin.

Winning Probability (Analyst View)

Not odds—just a cricketing probability lens. On balance and depth, India start favourites tonight due to:

• Wrist-spin wicket threat in the middle overs;
• Bumrah’s end-overs superiority;
• A top order that can both attack and reset.

Pakistan’s upset route is crystal: new-ball strikes in the first three overs, hold India to a below-par powerplay, then squeeze with spin while keeping errors down at the death. Several analysts echo that India hold the edge, with the usual T20 volatility caveat.

Key Battles to Watch

• Shaheen Afridi vs Shubman Gill/Abhishek Sharma (Overs 1–3): If Pakistan don’t nick one early, India’s PP run-rate can snowball.
• Kuldeep & Varun vs Pakistan middle (Overs 7–15): India’s wicket-taking window vs stabilisers Fakhar/Agha Salman.
• Bumrah at the death vs Haris/Nawaz: Yorkers vs improvised hitting—often the game’s final swing.

Tactics & Selection Notes

• India: Whether they double-down on spin (Kuldeep + Varun + Axar) or sneak in an extra pacer is the only real toss-up. There’s external debate around Arshdeep Singh vs role balance; the think-tank may still prefer variety with two wristies.
• Pakistan: If the pitch looks drier, they can front-load overs from Abrar/Muqeem right after the powerplay and hold Shaheen for an over in the middle as a surprise seam option.

Broadcast, Languages & Handy Reminders

• TV: Sony Sports Ten 1/5 (English), Ten 3 (Hindi), regional feeds on Ten 4 where available.
• Digital (India): SonyLIV—official stream.
• Toss: 7:30 PM IST; pace your dinner accordingly.

The Narrative Tonight

Expect India to lean into structure—use match-ups, keep the fielding intensity high, and avoid freebies. Pakistan will target impact spikes: high-value overs around the powerplay and a spin choke thereafter. With the head-to-head tilt and form lines pointing India’s way, Pakistan must win moments, not just sessions.

Whatever the noise off the field, the cricket itself should be gripping under lights in Dubai—and if T20 has taught us anything, it’s that a two-over burst can flip months of analysis.

Quick FAQ

What time is the India vs Pakistan match today (IST)? 8:00 PM IST, toss 7:30 PM IST. Where is it being played? Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE. How to watch in India? Sony Sports on TV; SonyLIV for streaming. Who’s favoured? India, on balance; Pakistan dangerous if they win the powerplay and control spin overs.