In the T20 format, teams rely on data to plan match-ups, making individual contests a key part of preparation. For India head coach Gautam Gambhir and Pakistan coach Mike Hesson, identifying the right combinations will be important ahead of the India-Pakistan game. However, with limited recent meetings between the two sides, the available data set is not extensive.Here are five match-ups that could shape the contest, weather permitting.
1) Sahibzada Farhan vs Jasprit Bumrah
The last time they faced each other in a T20I, Sahibzada Farhan hit Jasprit Bumrah for two sixes in a single game, becoming one of the few international batters to do so. Farhan later featured in an advertorial documentary about those shots in Dubai.Against Namibia, Bumrah did not bowl in the Powerplay. It remains to be seen how India use him against Pakistan. In three matches, Farhan has faced 34 balls from Bumrah and scored 51 runs without being dismissed.
2) Babar Azam vs Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav has not bowled to Babar Azam in a T20I. In ODIs, however, Kuldeep has dismissed Babar twice in three games, with Babar scoring 28 runs from 52 balls in those matches.Kuldeep has also done well against Pakistan in Asia Cup T20 matches, taking eight wickets in three games, including four in the final, even though Babar did not play in those fixtures. For this contest to take place, India would need to include Kuldeep in the playing XI.
3) Hardik Pandya vs Usman Tariq
Hardik Pandya could be a key batter against Usman Tariq. If Tariq bowls during the middle overs, from 7 to 16, this battle could unfold.Tariq’s pause at the crease can disrupt a batter’s timing. Pandya, however, relies on his back-lift and balance to generate bat speed, even if he picks up the ball late. He does not have a pronounced trigger movement and usually reacts after the ball is released.
4) Ishan Kishan vs Shaheen Shah Afridi
Ishan Kishan has been among the runs and could look to attack Shaheen Shah Afridi, especially if the left-arm pacer angles the ball away from the left-hander. It will be important to see whether Shaheen uses the short ball against Kishan and how the batter responds.
5) Shivam Dube vs Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Ahmed
Shivam Dube has strong numbers against spin, including wrist spin. In 2025 T20 matches, he has scored at a strike rate of over 193 against slow bowlers. Against right-arm leg-spinners, he has scored freely, including against Ish Sodhi in a recent T20I series.Pakistan’s wrist spinners Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan could therefore be tested if Dube settles in.Both India and Pakistan have won their first two matches of the tournament.
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