When it comes to India vs Pakistan in cricket, bold statements are never in short supply. Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf has now added fresh spice to the build-up of Asia Cup 2025. In a video that has gone viral on social media, the speedster was asked by a fan about the possibility of Pakistan facing India twice in the tournament. Without hesitation, Rauf replied, “Dono apne hai, Inshallah” (Both matches are ours, God willing).
Watch Haris Rauf’s take below
Rauf’s confidence is no surprise. The right-arm pacer has been Pakistan’s most consistent performer in T20Is, with 120 wickets in 87 matches. Against India, he has bowled some fiery spells. However, he was at the receiving end of that unforgettable night at the MCG in the 2022 T20 World Cup when Virat Kohli turned the game on its head. Yet, the numbers remain modest for Rauf when it comes to this rivalry. In five T20Is against India, he has taken seven wickets, but in Asia Cup matches, just one wicket from two outings.
Apart from a one-off win at the Asia Cup 2022, the Men in Green last defeated India in a T20I during the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai, when Shaheen Shah Afridi’s new-ball burst scripted a famous win. Since then, India have tightened their grip. In their last meeting at the T20 World Cup 2024 in New York, Pakistan failed to chase a modest target of 120.
India also come into this Asia Cup with a full-strength squad, led by experienced campaigners including skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Shubman Gill. Pakistan, on the other hand, will be without senior pros Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah. Their absence leaves Rauf as one of the few experienced heads in a relatively fresh-looking team.
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