Indian cricket great Sunil Gavaskar picked Pakistan as favourites in Virat Kohli's absence on Wednesday ahead of their Asia Cup group stage clash in Dubai.

The last time the two teams played what is always an emotionally charged fixture -- the final of the Champions Trophy last year -- Pakistan thrashed India by 180 runs.

On Tuesday, India only managed to scrape to a 26-run win over minnows Hong Kong. Pakistan kicked off their Asia Cup campaign on Sunday with a thumping win over the same opponents.

"Pakistan is the favourite only because the big psychological advantage that they have of beating India in the final of the Champions Trophy," said Gavaskar, a member of India's 1983 World Cup-winning side.

"The previous game or the ball before... always stays at the back of your mind and that creates a touch of uncertainty in your mind."

"And Virat's absence is going to be crucial as well," the former captain said on Indian TV Channel Aaj Tak.

The talismanic Kohli, currently the top-ranked one-day batsman in the world, has been rested for regional six-team competition in the United Arab Emirates.

Rohit Sharma is leading the side in his absence, looking for redemption after India´s 1-4 Test loss to England.

India hold the edge in Asia Cup encounters against Pakistan with a 6-5 lead in 12 matches. But Pakistan have a big 73-52 lead overall in 129 ODI games.