The inclusion of Gill in the squad has raised doubts in the minds of management about who will open the innings for their side, along with left-hand batter Abhishek, in the tournament.
Bumrah's on-field reply, delivered after shattering Rauf's off stump in the 18th over, was an unexpected highlight of the final.
India suffered a major pre-match blow in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan as star all-rounder Hardik Pandya was ruled out of the title-deciding clash in Dubai due to a niggle.
'This game has given me so much, so I keep reminding myself that I need to show the world what the game has given to me, and I have to give it back to the game.'
The battle between Shaheen Afridi's pace and Shubman Gill's bat could decide the game, with former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram offering advice on how Afridi can evolve to meet the challenge.
The Asia Cup 2025 had been simmering with tension from the very first India-Pakistan encounter, and by the time the final arrived, the animosity had reached boiling point.
Meanwhile, Pakistan team management has decided not to interact with media ahead of the Super4 contest.
'This is a new India, we won't tolerate it.'
Pycroft officiated the India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash, at the end of which Indian players did not shake hands with the rival team.
'My bat did its work, and they (Pakistan) did not get a chance to speak.'
Pakistan now face a must-win encounter against India to keep their semi-final hopes alive in the ICC Champions Trophy.
Pakistani batter Sahibzada Farhan also sparked debate with his 'gun salute' bat raise after a defiant fifty.
The alarming part is in 10 innings, Suryakumar Yadav has managed only 10 fours and three sixes and dot ball percentage has gone up to nearly 48, translating to five dot balls in every delivery.
Rane also questioned Uddhav Thackeray's right to comment on the match, accusing his party of staying silent when pro-Pakistan slogans were allegedly raised at a rally by one of its MPs.
Hitting back, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate posted a picture of Afridi with BJP leader Anurag Thakur to say that the ruling party should be ashamed for asking questions from the Congress while it itself maintain ties with them.
Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan on Tuesday didn't mince words while criticising the "not so ideal" scheduling
UAE batter Alishan Sharafu hailed the quality of India's players ahead of their Asia Cup opening match in Dubai on Wednesday.
'Pakistan is uncomfortable with the Indian presence in Afghanistan. They want the Taliban to ensure that there is no Indian presence in Afghanistan.'
Suryakumar Yadav's appalling dry spell with the bat since taking over India's T20I captaincy mantle continued in the Asia Cup final on Dubai's slow-paced track against Pakistan on Sunday.
India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate is extremely proud of a young team which didn't lose its mind despite Pakistan players indulged in controversial over-the-top celebrations and uttering not so respectable words during the Asia Cup Super 4s game last Sunday.
The Asia Cup trophy was ultimately not awarded to champions India in the customary ceremony after they refused to accept it from Naqvi in Dubai on Sunday.
'The doctors told me had I delayed by even a few hours, the consequences could have been catastrophic.'
This Asia Cup has charred the relationship between India and Pakistan players.
The ICC is now expected to announce the final schedule of the event with Pakistan expected to host 9 to 10 matches.
Asia Cup: Hardik Pandya goes past Chahal to become second-highest wicket-taker for India in T20Is
Defending champions India had a full-fledged practice session at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Friday as they put the finishing touches to their Asia Cup preparations.
Pakistan skipper Salman Agha on Wednesday admitted that his team's middle-order remains a concern and said the batters will need to step up in upcoming matches, including the Super 4 clash against India in the Asia Cup.
Sunday's final can be called the ultimate stress-test day for every cricket fan's heartbeat.
When I interviewed Alishan Sharafu as a 14-year-old schoolboy following his huge scores in domestic matches, he told me he wanted to bat like A B de Villiers.
According to Samaa TV, the Pakistan management claimed the TV umpire did not examine all available angles before announcing its decision. Pakistan's protest emphasised how the evidence was not "clear and conclusive" to justify ruling Fakhar out, and the umpire's call favoured the fielding side despite replays showing a margin of uncertainty.
Former Pakistan player Basit Ali believes the experience of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli gives India the edge in the blockbuster February 23 game.
It was an optional net session ahead of the Pakistan clash but Shubman Gill's obsession with practice meant he couldn't resist hitting the nets even when most teammates preferred recovery.
The Indian team refused to take the trophy from Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Pakistan Cricket Board chief and known for his vocal anti-India stand.
Pakistan need to win if they are any chance of progressing to the semi-finals in their home tournament after being crushed by New Zealand in their campaign opener.
The legendary Kapil Dev on Friday backed India to win the Asia Cup but stressed on collective efforts taking precedence over individual brilliance ahead of the high-voltage clash against Pakistan in Dubai.
This is the first-ever India vs Pakistan final across 17 editions of the Men's Asia Cup since the tournament's inception in 1984.
However, Wassan also believed that Suryakumar made a political statement mentioning Operation Sindoor and Pahalgam during the post-match presentation and press conference following the group stage clash between the two teams, which could have been avoided.
Pakistan team manager Naveed Akram Cheema lodged a "formal protest" against match referee Andy Pycroft alleging that he asked both captains not to shake hands during the toss.
After days of off-field drama, Team India was back on the field in Dubai at the ICC Academy, sharpening their skills ahead of the final Group A clash against Oman.
Tilak Varma shared his remarkable journey from a modest upbringing to shining on the international stage, driven by a childhood dream to win a World Cup for India.
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