NEW DELHI: The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is unparalleled, and when the two teams meet in a final, it's nothing short of a treat for fans. This Sunday, the Asia Cup final will feature the arch-rivals competing for the title, and what makes it even more historic is that it's the first time India and Pakistan will face each other in the final in the tournament's history.

Fans couldn't have asked for more, as this will be the third consecutive Sunday that India and Pakistan face off in the Asia Cup, with India having emerged victorious on both previous occasions in the group stage and Super 4s.

The last two matches were marred by controversy, with Indian players refusing to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts. During the most recent Sunday match, tempers flared further as Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan made provocative gestures.

Pakistan made it to the Asia Cup final with a 11-run victory over Bangladesh in their last Super 4 match in Dubai on Thursday. India, on the other hand, stormed into the final by winning all five matches they have played so far - 3 in group stage and 2 so far in Super 4s.

The rivalry between the two teams in T20Is is heavily lopsided, with reigning world champions India winning 12 of the 15 encounters. India skipper Suryakumar Yadav also quipped about this after the last match.

When a senior Pakistani journalist asked whether the gulf in standards between the two sides had grown too wide, Suryakumar smiled and replied, "Sir, my request is that we should now stop calling India vs Pakistan matches a rivalry."

When the journalist clarified that he was referring to "standards, not rivalry," the Indian skipper responded with a nonchalant quip.

"Sir, rivalry and standard are all the same. Now what is a rivalry? If two teams have played 15 matches and it's 8-7, that's a rivalry. Here it's 13-1 (12-3) or something. There is no contest," he said.

But there's a catch - when digging into the two teams' records in tournament finals in limited overs cricket featuring more than five teams, Pakistan actually hold the advantage over India.

India vs Pakistan in tournament finals (featuring 5+ teams)

Played: 5
India won: 2
Pakistan won: 3

India and Pakistan have contested five finals in limited-overs tournaments featuring more than five teams. India's only triumphs came at the Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket in 1985 and the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. Pakistan, meanwhile, hold the edge with three victories - in the Austral-Asia Cup (1986, 1994) and most recently the Champions Trophy in 2017.

When the stats are dug deep, Pakistan enjoy a massive advantage in tournament finals featuring three or more teams, with five wins and only two losses against India.

However, with their current form and boasting the top-ranked batter, bowler, and all-rounder, India are expected to deliver the knockout punch again in the final. But given the format's unpredictable nature, an upset can't be ruled out.