Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin weighed in on the build-up to the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash between India and Pakistan, suggesting that the Men in Blue have not played down the hype but simply acknowledged reality.Ravichandran Ashwin minced no words while criticising Pakistan following their dismal show in the Asia Cup 2025 fixture against arch-rivals India last Sunday.
After opting to bat first, Pakistan hit the self-destruct button and were restricted to 127/9, with the Indian bowlers annihilating their top and middle order. Barring Sahibzada Farhan (40) and Shaheen Afridi (33), no other batter managed to cross the 30-run mark. In response, India achieved the target in just 15.5 overs with 7 wickets to spare.
Speaking on his YouTube channel Ash ki Baat, R Ashwin reflected on skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s remarks in the pre-match press conference, where the Indian T20I captain cheekily dismissed the “rivalry” narrative. Asked about Pakistan, Suryakumar chose not to engage directly, instead remarking that when large crowds are present, his side’s job is simply “to entertain.”
R Ashwin, however, believes this response was not India dodging the question but a reflection of their confidence and dominance over Pakistan in recent years.
I doubt Pakistan will give competition to India- Ravichandran Ashwin
Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin downplayed the India-Pakistan rivalry on the field and stated that Sunday’s Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 match between the sides will have the Men in Blue slide in as the overwhelming favourites yet again. The spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin also said that the match will only witness an upset if Salman Agha’s men manage to put up a fight against India, a week after their group-stage contest ended in a seven-wicket defeat.
While Pakistan scraped past the United Arab Emirates to seal qualification post the India defeat, Suryakumar Yadav’s men survived a brief scare from Oman on Friday before sealing three successive wins to enter the last-four stage. Looking ahead to the India-Pakistan Super Four match , Ravichandran Ashwin said on his Youtube channel :
“If Pakistan even competes in this game, it’ll be an upset. From their point of view, I just want to see Saim Ayub score some runs instead of getting out first ball because he is a good cricketer. There aren’t too many concerns to address for India. If I was India, I would want Pakistan to challenge them with the T20 World Cup around the corner.”
“I doubt they’ll give much competition to India in the upcoming match as well. It’s just going to be yet another India-Pakistan match with the associate teams out of the tournament, that’s it. Pakistan are still struggling to even scale 150. They are barely getting there, only by Shaheen Afridi’s batting.” he added
R Ashwin also narrowed down certain targets for Pakistan to focus on in the game and also urged them to not bat first with depleted batting firepower in their ranks.
“If I were Pakistan, I’ll just aim at the stumps when bowling and swing hard when batting against India. Because quality wise, I am unsure if they can do much. Will they pick Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy? Will India continue playing Shivam Dube at 8 and give him overs? The wicket is getting better so maybe if Pakistan score 160, it might be a good game,” said Ashwin.
“Also, one request to Pakistan – please don’t bat first because of the pressure of the contest. By batting first, you make it a no-contest straightaway. By getting bowled out for 150, you are making the second half unwatchable. he concluded.
India enter the Super 4 stage in commanding form, having brushed aside all opposition in the group stages without major hiccups. Under the guidance of Gautam Gambhir, the squad has looked balanced and prepared, with the top order firing, the bowlers maintaining discipline, and the bench strength also getting valuable game time.
Pakistan, on the other hand, arrive with plenty to prove. After their inconsistent group-stage performances and off-field controversies surrounding the handshake snub and what ensued later on, Salman Ali Agha’s men will need to summon a strong performance to stay in contention for the final. History, however, does not favour them — India have dominated recent encounters across formats, and the psychological edge clearly rests with Suryakumar’s side.
For Indian players, the focus appears to be inward, with little appetite for off-field narratives. The message from R Ashwin is clear. This team does not see the need to fuel the rivalry, because their on-field performances already underline the gulf between the two sides. As the cricketing world gears up for the blockbuster fixture, the question remains whether Pakistan can break the cycle, or if India’s truth, as Ashwin put it, will once again play out under the Dubai lights.
Also Read: ENG vs IND : Shubman Gill Appointed Test Skipper For Red Ball