Asia Cup 2025 final - India vs Pakistan: How is the pitch playing? What is a winning score in T20I finals at Dubai?

After much anticipation, the Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan has kicked-off in Dubai. For the first time in 41 years, the arch-rivals are meeting in an Asia Cup final. Suryakumar Yadav, India's captain, had no hesitation in bowling first, given the chasing bias at this venue. Batting does tend to get better across the game progresses and India have also been good chasers. Meanwhile, Pakistan are better when defending a total, although they lost both games batting first against India in this tournament.

How is the pitch?

Ravi Shastri at the toss indicated the pitch is very dry and could have help for the spinners. It will still be a good batting track but it will be on the slower side. As the evening goes on, the ball could skid onto the bat a bit more nicely. However, if dew doesn't come in, Pakistan will be confident of defending a par score.

What is a par score?

There have been seven T20I finals in Dubai previously. The average score batting first is 141 but that is skewed due to Ireland's 71 all out against Afghanistan in 2017. If we take that out, the average score goes up to 153. Still isn't a big number and that tells you it isn't easy to set a score at this venue. Sri Lanka's total of 170 in the Asia Cup final 2022 against Pakistan is the highest winning total but New Zealand's 171 in the 2021 T20 World Cup final wasn't enough against Australia.

Pakistan will need a total in excess of 185 to stay in the game and to counter the dew factor if any.

Toss trends

Chasing sides have won five of the seven T20I finals. The last time a team won a T20I final at Dubai batting first, Pakistan were the opponents. So, they know that it isn't impossible.