Peaking At Right Time: In-Form India, Pakistan Players Who Can Set Asia Cup 2025 On Fire

Samson and Nawaz are in supreme form [Source: AFP]

To the delight of cricket fans across the globe, the much-awaited Asia Cup 2025 is all set to kick off on the 9th of September. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are placed in Group A and will clash with each other on September 14 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. 

India and Pakistan are the two most followed teams in the Asia Cup. Whenever the tournament takes place, fans keenly wait for the iconic face-off between these two teams. Several players from India and Pakistan, whom people had written off, have peaked at the right time just before the Asia Cup. 

So, with the competition coming up, here are three players from these two teams who can capitalise on their red-hot recent form to emerge as game-changers for India and Pakistan.  

Sanju Samson

How does Samson's improved form make him an asset for India?

• Swashbuckling batter Sanju Samson, who replaced Rohit Sharma as India's T20I opener, enjoyed stellar success against Bangladesh and South Africa before registering middling numbers in the England home series. The right-hander managed only 51 runs in five matches at an average of 10.20 and a strike rate of 118.60. 
• He also had a forgettable IPL season, struggling with form and fitness issues. However, Samson turned heads with a string of stunning knocks in the Kerala Cricket League, amassing 368 runs at an average of 73.60 and a blistering strike rate of 186.80. 
• Thus, Samson has peaked at the right time, and if the Indian think tank allows him to open the batting, the Kerala batter can emerge as one of their most impactful batters, riding on his form and confidence. 

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Mohammad Nawaz

How does Nawaz's improved form make him an asset for Pakistan?

(Improvement in Mohammad Nawaz's T20I prowess)

• Pakistan's experienced bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz let his team down with modest T20I returns in 2023 and 2024. However, he managed to regain his mojo in T20Is this year and has showcased remarkable form since making his comeback after the PSL season. 
• In his last ten matches, Nawaz has bagged 15 wickets at a magnificent average of 13.27 and a strike rate of 11.87. Meanwhile, his economy rate has also dropped to 6.71 as opposed to 7.65 in the preceding years, signifying how effective he has been in keeping the batters under the pump. 
• Besides taking crucial wickets, Nawaz has also been a handy contributor for Pakistan with the bat recently, slamming 136 runs at a healthy strike rate of 129.52 in T20Is this year. Therefore, he is one of the most-improved Pakistan players and might emerge as the wrecker-in-chief for the Men in Green with his all-round prowess.

Rinku Singh

How does Rinku Singh's improved form make him an asset for India?

• India's dynamic finisher Rinku Singh earned massive backlash for a prolonged lean patch in T20 Internationals. In his last seven T20Is, Rinku scored 67 runs, averaging just over 13 and striking at an abysmal rate of 101.51. 
• However, the southpaw managed to regain self-confidence in the UP T20 league, where he hammered 372 runs at an average of 62 and a strike rate of 178.85. Considering Rinku also didn't have a great IPL 2025 season (206 runs in 11 innings), his performance in the domestic league must've boosted his morale ahead of the Asia Cup. 
• So, given he plays the finisher's role for India in T20Is, Rinku's recent form and confidence could make him the perfect fiddle for Hardik Pandya in the upcoming tournament.  

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