The Asia Cup 2025 clash between India and Pakistan, scheduled for Sunday in Dubai, promises high drama both on and off the field. Despite calls from a section of fans and even some former cricketers to boycott the encounter, Team India is all set to face their arch-rivals in one of cricket’s most anticipated fixtures. What makes this contest even more intriguing is that it marks the first India-Pakistan T20 meeting since the retirement of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Former India pacer Atul Wassan, however, believes that the absence of the legendary duo will not be felt as the current squad has the depth and quality to dominate. He pointed out that Indian cricket has always moved forward, producing new superstars with every era.

“India’s B team will also beat this Pakistan side because things have changed. When we played in the 90s, Pakistan were a very strong unit. Now the boot is on the other foot. I will not miss Rohit (Sharma) and Virat (Kohli) because then I will start missing Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev also,” Atul Wassan told CNN News18, as quoted by the Indian Express.

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He added with perspective: “The king is dead, long live the king. Cricket evolves, new stars rise, and India has an embarrassment of riches. I almost feel sorry for the selectors because of the tough calls they have to make when leaving out players who could walk into any other international side.”

Echoing Wassan’s sentiments, former India spinner Piyush Chawla lauded the smooth transition of the team in the post-Rohit and Kohli era.

“If you look at the current squad, the number of games they’ve won since those retirements shows how well they’re doing. Someone like Arshdeep Singh, who is among the world’s top five T20 bowlers, isn’t even making the playing XI. That speaks volumes about India’s depth,” Piyush Chawla remarked.

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He further highlighted that this isn’t even a transition phase anymore. “This team looks settled. Of course, you miss legends, but that’s the cycle of the game. With the experience players gain from tournaments like the IPL, the standards remain incredibly high.”

With both legends gone, India enters a new chapter — and Sunday’s showdown against Pakistan could be the ultimate test of its next generation.