Ahead of the high-stakes India vs. Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup, India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak emphasized the team's unwavering focus despite calls for a boycott following the Pahalgam attack. He confirmed the team's alignment with the government's decision to participate only in multinational tournaments involving Pakistan.
Kotak highlighted the players' concentration on the game itself, downplaying external pressures. Both captains, Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Agha, anticipate an aggressive contest, with each team eager to assert dominance.
While former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh expressed reservations about resuming bilateral series given the political climate, ticket sales for the match remain strong, indicating high fan interest despite the controversy.
“Once BCCI said they are aligned with government's decision, our focus was always on the match. It's India versus Pakistan, and it will be an interesting game. India versus Pakistan is always a competitive game. Players are focused on the ground and nothing else is on their minds”
Best match-winning batting specialists in IPL 2025 (calculated as Not Out % × Average, batters/all-rounders/wicketkeepers only)
Rank | Player | Team | match-winners |
---|---|---|---|
#1 | RCB | 41.6 score | |
#2 | DC | 26.9 score | |
#3 | PBKS | 25.0 score | |
#4 | MI | 20.4 score | |
#5 | GT | 18.4 score |
Most consistent batting specialists in IPL 2025 (calculated as Average × Strike Rate ÷ 100, batters/all-rounders/wicketkeepers only)
Rank | Player | Team | consistency-rating |
---|---|---|---|
#1 | RCB | 115.40 rating | |
#2 | MI | 109.45 rating | |
#3 | GT | 97.46 rating | |
#4 | PBKS | 88.11 rating | |
#5 | LSG | 85.70 rating |