India v Pakistan Asia Cup Final Tips: India so strong but Pakistan's new breed excites

Click here for India v Pakistan odds
Saturday October 3, 05:30
TV: Live on TNT

India v Pakistan Asia Cup final team news

India humiliated a third-string Sri Lanka in the semi-final, bowling them out for just 45. It's testament to a powerful attack which would not be out of place for India in, perhaps, more meaningful games. Jasprit Bumrah is the pace spearhead in a spin-heavy line-up.

Indeed, the only other pace option they could utilise is Shivam Dube. The result is that they bat all the way down to No 9 with Washington Sundar.

The batting is at full-strength in this format, including Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma. Ishan Kishan down at No 5 is a ridiculous show of strength, likewise Tilak Varma who was at No 7 against Sri Lanka.

Probable XI: Sooryavanshi, Abhishek, Samson, Iyer, Ishan, Axar, Tilak, Dube, Sundar, Bishnoi, Bumrah

Pakistan have a franchise feel about their XI as they aim to take down the mighty India. Maaz Sadaqat, Usman Khan, Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz were all performers in the CPL and one of them may need to catch fire here.

Sadaqat, given how he powered Jamacia's run to the final, is best placed. His opening partnership with Sahibzada Farham is potentially thrilling. Nawaz and Abdul Samad are charged with late-order chaos.

The big names such as Babar Azam are not involved but that's no bad thing. There is no doubt Pakistan have picked a batting line-up full of players who understand the modern game.

They have made no bones about their bowling strength, either. Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed are dangerous spinners and will need to tie India down.

Probable XI: Sadaqat, Farhan, Usman, Ayub, Nawaz, Samad, Minhas, Daniyal, Mohammad Wasim, Sufiyan, Abrar

India v Pakistan Asia Cup final pitch report 

In the seven matches played, only two first-innings scores have busted more than 130. India's 169 against Sri Lanka in the semi is the highest but India have only played the one match. It is a slow, tired and spin-heavy surface.

The better batting units of these two sides should make for a more balanced contest but a score of 150 -160 batting first would be considered a more than solid total. The extreme unders option if Pakistan bat first is there as one cannot discount their nation's struggles against their rivals.

Other markets which catch the eye include the 11/43.75 that there is no 50 in the match and the 10/111.91 that there are under 12.5 wickets, which has won four times despite the go-slow nature.

India v Pakistan Asia Cup final match prediction 

India are as short as [1/5] with the Betfair Sportsbook with Pakistan priced at 7/24.50. There is a tiny bit of extra value on the Betfair Exchange, India are 1.251/4 with Pakistan 4.904/1.

It is a mismatch, it has to be said, on the formguide. India have won each of the last six head-to-heads and only one of those was a contest.

However this is a Pakistan line-up which is gung-ho with the bat individually. We've not seen that in the past. It could be they are spooked by the occasion but the prospect of a trade on Pakistan, if batting first, is real. A fast, belligerent start in the powerplay is in their hands and a couple of points off their price is the trade strategy.

The big gamble would be to let it run. But when you're taking 4/15.00 on the Exchange you may as well be bold and snaffle the 11/112.00 with Sportsbook that Pakistan win the match and hit the most sixes. As stated previously ad nauseum, this is absolutely a related market.

India v Pakistan Asia Cup final player tips 

Abhishek Sharma at 7/24.50 for top India bat will be of interest given his ability to get the market won in the powerplay. Whether the pitch suits remains to be seen, however. Shivam Dube, as an expert spin hitter, catches the eye at 17s but we would need a promotion up the order. For Pakistan, Arafat Minhas at 20s may be of interest. If we're right about Pakistan's openers going hard, Farhan to score 30 at 11/82.38 or Sadaqat for the same at 6/42.50 are fair. Likewise Abhishek for three sixes or more at 7/42.75 and Sporryavanshi at 6/42.50. Neither waste any time and will play the same regardless of the situation.

Bookmark Betting.Betfair for cricket tips on all the big games and tournaments