Babar Azam, Shubman Gill out; No Sanju Samson: India-Pakistan combined T20I XI of 2025

Samson, Gill and Babar excluded from IND-PAK combined XI [Source: AFP]

The year 2025 was a proper roller-coaster ride for the Pakistan cricket team, while India maintained their dream run in the shortest format. Led by Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan finished the Asia Cup 2025 as the runners-up, besides registering clinical series wins against South Africa and in the Tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. 

India, on the other hand, lifted the Asia Cup title and also defeated England, Australia and South Africa, showing readiness as a competitive unit for the T20 World Cup. As the arch-rivals finish the year on a high note, we analyse to find their combined T20I XI for 2025. 

Abhishek to open with Sahibzada; No Babar Azam and Shubman Gill

(Abhishek Sharma and Sahibzada Farhan in T20Is in 2025)

• Abhishek Sharma and Sahibzada Farhan, the two most successful batters among India and Pakistan players, have been chosen as our openers. Both these batters were magnificent in the Asia Cup, powering India and Pakistan to the final. Farhan even slammed a fifty in the final, while Abhishek finished as the tournament's highest run-getter. 
• Considering Shubman Gill (291 runs, average- 24.25) and Babar Azam (206 runs, strike rate - 114.44) massively underperformed in T20Is this year, there was absolutely no hesitation in picking Abhishek and Farhan as the openers of our India-Pakistan combined T20I XI. 
• Shubman Gill failed to make the most of his chances, recording middling numbers as an opener in the Asia Cup and the bilateral series against Australia and South Africa. His prolonged lean patch led to Gill's exclusion from the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup. 
• On a similar note, veteran Pakistan batter Babar Azam made his T20I comeback, but couldn't convince the team management about his batting credentials in the shortest format. In the latest development, Babar continues to struggle in the Big Bash League and has also lost his place in Pakistan's T20I squad for the Sri Lanka series. 

Why Saim Ayub gets an entry despite poor batting numbers?

While Shubman Gill and Babar Azam are the two most notable absentees, Saim Ayub finds a place in our combined XI, courtesy of his all-round exploits. 

Although he had a forgettable Asia Cup campaign with the bat, Saim Ayub bounced back with two impactful knocks against South Africa. However, it was his bowling prowess that became the talk of the town, with Saim bagging 21 wickets at a magnificent economy of 6.76. 

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Tilak Varma to form middle order with Agha Salman and Hardik Pandya

(Tilak and Pandya were impressive in 2025)

• India's dependable batter Tilak Varma performed consistently in T20Is, scoring 567 runs at a healthy average of 47.25 in 2025. He was pivotal in India's Asia Cup triumph, guiding them to glory with a valiant half-century in the final against Pakistan. 
• Although Suryakumar Yadav delivered results as the Indian captain, his worrisome batting record (218 runs, average - 13.62, SR - 123.16) is the reason why we have dropped him from our combined XI. Destructive Indian batter Sanju Samson also misses out due to abysmal numbers, having averaged less than 21 in T20Is this year. 
• Surya's Pakistani counterpart, Agha Salman, did a significantly better job than him, amassing 625 runs, including five half-centuries, at an average of 26.04, and hence has been chosen as the captain of our team. 
• Hardik Pandya is a straightforward choice to play as the pace-bowling allrounder as well as the first-choice finisher in our team. Besides scoring 302 runs at an average of 33.55 and a blistering strike rate of 153.29, Pandya bagged 12 wickets in T20I cricket this year. 

Mohammad Nawaz at 8; Shivam Dube picked over Faheem Ashraf

Mohammad Nawaz was undoubtedly Pakistan's most valuable T20I player in 2025. Apart from scoring 362 runs at a strike rate of 138.16, Nawaz finished the year as Pakistan's most successful bowler with 36 scalps. 

While he makes it into the team as our spin all-rounder, Shivam Dube pips Faheem Ashraf for another all-rounder's slot, having convincingly outperformed his Pakistani counterpart (191 runs, SR- 152.8, 12 wickets) with bat and ball. 

Shaheen Afridi to lead bowling attack with Arshdeep, Chakravarthy

Varun Chakravarthy finished the year 2025 as India's most successful T20I bowler, scalping 36 wickets at a strike rate of 11.1. We have chosen him as the leader of our spin attack, with Shaheen Afridi and Arshdeep Singh being preferred as the frontline pacers. 

Shaheen was the highest wicket-taker among India and Pakistan pacers, having bagged 26 T20I wickets in 2025. Meanwhile, Arshdeep (15 wickets, strike rate - 16.2) overshadowed Jasprit Bumrah (14 wickets, strike rate - 17.6) and hence makes it into the team as our second seamer. 

Combined India-Pakistan T20I XI of 2025

Abhishek Sharma, Sahibzada Farhan (WK), Saim Ayub, Tilak Varma, Agha Salman (C), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy

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