The build-up to the Asia Cup 2025 has already sparked lively debate, with former India cricketer Madan Lal making bold predictions about the tournament’s outcome. Lal, who was part of India’s historic 1983 World Cup-winning squad, believes that India enter the competition as the strongest favourites. While Pakistan’s inconsistencies continue to plague their progress, Lal pointed out that Afghanistan have emerged as a real force and could well challenge Pakistan’s long-standing position as South Asia’s second-most competitive team.
India: The Undisputed Favourites
India’s dominance in world cricket, particularly in the shorter formats, has been underscored by their depth of talent and consistent performances. Under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, supported by stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya, India have maintained a balanced mix of experience and youth.
According to Madan Lal, this balance gives India a decisive edge. “India is a strong favourite due to their skilled team,” he said, emphasizing that the squad not only possesses batting firepower but also the bowling arsenal to handle pressure in the high-octane Asia Cup.
India’s strong domestic circuit, coupled with the IPL’s influence, ensures that emerging stars like Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Tilak Varma are ready to step up when needed. This makes the Men in Blue less vulnerable to injuries or sudden loss of form compared to other teams in the region.
Pakistan’s Decline: From 2022 T20 World Cup Finalists to Struggling Contenders
In sharp contrast, Pakistan’s cricketing graph has dipped significantly since their 2022 T20 World Cup final appearance. The team has been hampered by inconsistent performances in multinational tournaments, frequent changes in leadership, and questionable selection policies.
The latest controversy came with the omission of two of their biggest stars, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, from the Asia Cup 2025 squad. While Babar’s exclusion shocked fans, reports suggest that concerns over his strike rate and approach against spin led to his dropping. Head Coach Mike Hesson later defended Babar, stating that the criticism was “harsh” given his quality, but also admitted that the batter needed to evolve his game.
Adding to the turmoil, constant chopping and changing of captains and coaches has further unsettled the side. With no stable leadership, Pakistan’s confidence levels appear low heading into a tournament where they will face India on September 14, a fixture that invariably draws global attention.
Afghanistan: The Silent Risers
Perhaps the most intriguing storyline ahead of the Asia Cup is Afghanistan’s rise as a genuine contender. Madan Lal suggested that Afghanistan could even replace Pakistan as the region’s next dominant force.
“Afghanistan is seen as a potential challenger to Pakistan, whose current performance and confidence levels are questioned,” Lal noted.
Afghanistan’s growth has been remarkable. Once seen as underdogs, they now boast world-class players across formats. Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman provide a potent spin attack, while emerging stars like Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz offer exciting batting options. Their fearless approach and ability to punch above their weight have made them one of the most dangerous sides in T20 cricket.
Their recent performances against top-tier teams have shown that they can no longer be considered minnows. With Pakistan struggling, Afghanistan’s upward trajectory could see them becoming India’s closest rivals in the Asia Cup 2025.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh: The Dark Horses
While the spotlight is on India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, teams like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh should not be written off. Both sides have a history of springing surprises in the Asia Cup.
Sri Lanka, the defending champions from 2022, possess depth in their spin attack and a knack for excelling in subcontinental conditions.
Bangladesh, led by experienced campaigners like Shakib Al Hasan, have often troubled bigger teams with their disciplined bowling and aggressive batting.
Madan Lal rightly pointed out that these teams, too, are strong contenders in their own right, and the unpredictability of the T20 format means no one can be taken lightly.
Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 Squad: A Mix of Experience and Experimentation
Pakistan’s squad announcement has already raised eyebrows due to the absence of key names. Led by Salman Ali Agha, the squad includes a mix of seasoned players like Shaheen Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, and Hasan Ali, alongside relatively inexperienced faces such as Hasan Nawaz and Salman Mirza.
Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 squad:
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.
Chief selector Aaqib Javed defended the squad, saying, “This team has the ability to beat India during the tournament. The match between India and Pakistan is the biggest in world cricket. Every player knows this.”
While Javed’s confidence is admirable, many experts believe Pakistan’s instability and questionable exclusions may cost them dearly in the high-pressure competition.
The India vs Pakistan Clash: More Than Just a Game
Set for September 14, the India-Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup will once again be the centerpiece of the tournament. Despite Pakistan’s decline, the rivalry ensures that the contest will be fiercely fought.
For India, the challenge will be to handle the weight of expectations, while Pakistan will hope their new-look squad can rise to the occasion. Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, however, will also be watching closely, eager to capitalize on any slip-ups by the two giants.
Madan Lal’s Final Word
Madan Lal’s comments reflect the current cricketing landscape in Asia:
India remain the most stable and skilled side.
Pakistan are battling internal issues that threaten their competitiveness.
Afghanistan are the rising challengers who could upset the traditional hierarchy.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the unpredictable dark horses capable of causing upsets.
As Lal said, the Asia Cup 2025 promises to be a thrilling tournament where reputations will be tested and new heroes will likely emerge.
Conclusion
With less than two weeks to go before the Asia Cup 2025, the excitement is palpable. India enter as firm favourites, but the unpredictability of T20 cricket ensures that no side can be written off. Afghanistan’s rise has added an exciting dimension, while Pakistan’s exclusion of big names like Babar Azam raises questions about their strategy and stability.
As fans gear up for the marquee clashes, particularly the India-Pakistan encounter, one thing is certain — the Asia Cup will once again showcase the intensity, unpredictability, and passion that make cricket in the subcontinent so unique.
