High-Stakes Rivalry Renewed in Doha
The much-anticipated cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan is set for a new chapter as India A takes on Pakistan Shaheens tonight, November 16, in the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025. The electrifying T20 encounter will be held at the Doha cricket ground, promising a spectacle of young talent.
Teams Enter with Dominant Victories
India A storms into this high-voltage match on the back of a massive 148-run victory over the UAE. The match was utterly dominated by a historic innings from 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who smashed a breathtaking 144 runs from just 42 balls, a knock that included a flurry of boundaries and instantly made him the tournament's talking point.
On the other side, Pakistan Shaheens also commenced their campaign on a winning note, securing a 40-run win against Oman. Their innings was powered by Maaz Sadaqat's brilliant unbeaten 96 off 54 balls, which helped them post a competitive total of 220/4. Oman put up a spirited fight in response but finished at 180/9.
AI Weighs In: A Tilt Towards India A
The pre-match analysis from various artificial intelligence platforms suggests a fascinatingly close contest, with a slight edge given to the Indian side. Google Gemini predicted a win for India A, assigning them a high probability of around 73% based on their opening performance.
Both Perplexity AI and ChatGPT presented a tighter forecast. They estimated India A's win probability at approximately 55%, with Pakistan Shaheens close behind at 45%. A key factor cited by the AI is the potential role of dew in the Doha evening, which could favour the team batting second. ChatGPT added that if India A bats first and sets a large total, it would put significant pressure on the Pakistani bowlers.
Expected Lineups and How to Watch
The predicted playing XIs for this crucial match are as follows:
India A: Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir, Jitesh Sharma (w/c), Ramandeep Singh, Ashutosh Sharma, Harsh Dubey, Yash Thakur, Gurjapneet Singh, Suyash Sharma.
Pakistan Shaheens: Yasir Khan, Mohammad Naeem, Mohammad Faiq, Maaz Sadaqat, Ghazi Ghori (w), Irfan Khan (c), Saad Masood, Mubasir Khan, Ubaid Shah, Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal.
For fans in India, the match will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network, specifically on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD and HD channels, starting from 8 PM India time. Online live streaming will be available exclusively on the SonyLIV app and website.
Suryavanshi's Entry into the Record Books
Vaibhav Suryavanshi's whirlwind century has rightfully earned him a spot among the fastest in T20 cricket. His 32-ball hundred places him in esteemed company, sharing the spot with India's Rishabh Pant. The list of fastest T20 centuries is currently led by Sahil Chauhan (27 balls), followed by Indians Urvil Patel and Abhishek Sharma (28 balls each), and Muhammad Fahad of Turkey (29 balls). The legendary Chris Gayle's 30-ball IPL hundred for RCB rounds off the top five.
