India has suffered a massive blow ahead of the blockbuster Asia Cup 2025 finals to be played against Pakistan in Dubai.
Pandya’s absence comes after his injury concerns surfaced during India’s Super Four clash with Sri Lanka on Friday. The all-rounder bowled the opening over and dimissed Kusal Mendis against Sri Lanka.
With his availability for the summit clash against Pakistan remains uncertain, Hardik Pandya endter the ground along with team physio, without spikes and appeared to be walking gingerly.
During the toss, Suryakumar Yadav confirmed his unavailability of Hardik Pandya.
Speaking at the toss, Suryakumar Yadav said, We are looking to bowl first. It looks like a good wicket. The wicket gets better under lights. We have been batting well first but we would like to chase today.”
🚨 Toss & Playing XI🚨#TeamIndia won the toss and elected to bowl in the #Final 🙌
Here’s tonight’s Playing XI 👍
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/0VXKuKPkE2#AsiaCup2025 pic.twitter.com/tPSPz4uHBD
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 28, 2025
“The groundsmen have done a terrific job with the wickets here and it will stay the same. The brand of cricket we have been playing for the last 5-6 games is pretty good and we would like to continue that.”
“Unfortunately Hardik misses out due to a niggle, Arshdeep and Harshit also miss out. Bumrah, Dube and Rinku come in,” SKY concluded.
Pandya has been the leading wicket taker against Pakistan in T20Is. Having picked 15 wickets he was also on verge of picking 100 T20I wickets ahead of the game.
In 120 T20Is, he picked 98 wickets and was two wickets away from claiming 100 wickets in short format.
In the Asia Cup, Pandya has taken four wickets in six games at an economy of 8.57.
Ahead of the game, India bowling coach Morne Morkel revealed that Abhishek Sharma is fine, but did not confirm Hardik Pandya’s availability as he needed further assessment.
India Playing 11: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy
