India and Pakistan will square off in the Asia Cup 2025 final on Sunday (September 28) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This will be the first final between the arch-rivals in the 41-year history of the continental event, which began in 1984.

Ahead of the marquee encounter, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has advised India skipper Suryakumar Yadav to take a few deliveries in the middle to assess pitch conditions before playing his natural game.

Suryakumar has struggled for runs in the eight-team tournament so far, scoring 71 runs in five innings at an average of 23.66 and a strike rate of 107.57, with scores of 7*, 47*, 0, 5 and 12 to his name.

“He’s undoubtedly a class player. All I would suggest is that he give himself three or four deliveries in the middle to assess the conditions—check for pace, bounce, or turn. Watching from the dugout and stepping onto the field can feel very different,” Gavaskar told Sports Today.

“Sometimes, if a batter is ahead, it might seem like there’s nothing in the pitch, but it’s always better to take a few balls to gauge the conditions before playing your natural game,” he added.

The Men in Blue will come into the final after beating Sri Lanka in a Super Over on Friday (September 26) night, and Gavaskar reckons that a tough day before the title clash could benefit India.

“Facing a tough day before the final can actually be beneficial. It wasn’t a bad day; rather, it was a hard day at the office. The team managed to come through by maintaining their composure in the last few overs while defending the total.

“The final over could have been slightly better if Harshit had bowled more slower deliveries instead of the pacey ones. Nonetheless, the way the team bounced back, despite the strong performances from Kusal Perera and Nissanka, speaks volumes about their resilience and temperament,” Gavaskar remarked.

After remaining unbeaten in six group-stage and Super 4 matches, India will be keen to lift their ninth Asia Cup title when they face arch-rivals on Sunday.