Hardik Pandya is not playing in the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan due to a hamstring injury, described as a "niggle," which he sustained during India's Super Four match against Sri Lanka. He bowled only one over in that match before leaving the field and was unable to recover in time for the final. Consequently, he has been ruled out of the final, with Rinku Singh selected to replace him in the playing XI. India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed this at the toss, mentioning that Hardik and a couple of other players missed out due to fitness issues. This injury was a significant setback for India, as Pandya has been a key performer, especially in matches against Pakistan.