• Source:JND
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India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2025: Indian team suffered a major scare ahead of their all-important Asia Cup 2025 match against arch-rivals Pakistan as the star batter Shubman Gill reportedly suffered a hand injury on Saturday.

India and Pakistan will face off in the sixth match of the tournament at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Both teams have won their respective first matches of the tournament.

According to a report in the Times of India on Saturday, Gill, who remained unbeaten on 20 runs against the UAE in the last match, suffered an injury during India’s practice session. The right-handed batter was seen in discomfort after taking the blow, and the team physio rushed to attend to him before he walked off the pitch. He later sat on the icebox, holding his injured hand.

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Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir spoke with Gill after the incident, whereas his opening partner Abhishek Sharma helped him open a water bottle. On the other hand, the team physio continued to monitor him. However, Gill returned to the nets after a while and was ready to face the next ball.

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If Gill skips the match against Pakistan, then Sanju Samson will replace him as an opening batter. Samson is India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in T20Is. The cricketer from Kerala scored three centuries as an opener last year in T20Is.

Sanju was part of India’s playing XI in the match against the UAE as well on Wednesday, September 10, but he didn’t get a chance to bat in the 58-run chase.


Will India make changes in playing XI for Pakistan game?

All eyes will be on India's playing XI for the match against Pakistan. India sat out Arshdeep Singh for the opening match against the UAE, despite the left-arm pacer being the team's highest wicket-taker in the shortest format of the game.

While the Men in Blue are expected to retain the batting order and go with the combination of Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy as the two attacking spinners, it remains to be seen who will make way for Arshdeep if India opts to make a change.

Arshdeep has been India's most consistent bowler in T20I cricket and was a part of the team that lifted the title in the T20 World Cup 2024. In 63 matches played so far, he has dismissed 99 batters.