India has chosen to include only one specialist seamer, Jasprit Bumrah, in the starting lineup for the 2025 Asia Cup. In the continental competition, Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya have been utilised as fast-bowling all-rounders. India now has eight batting alternatives thanks to this, which gives the team more depth.
Irfan Pathan, a former all-rounder for India, believes this tactic could be dangerous, though, given that dew may play a significant role in upcoming games, such as Sunday’s Super-Four match against bitter rivals Pakistan. According to Pathan, captain Suryakumar Yadav will find it difficult to employ his three spinners if the ball gets wet. According to the cricketer-turned-commentator, this issue might be resolved by including Arshdeep Singh in the starting lineup.
Pathan, 40, also voiced his worries about Hardik and Dube’s capacity to bowl yorkers on a regular basis.
“I will honour the statements I made before to the Asia Cup commencing. Since you might need a second fast bowler in a pinch, I would want to watch Arshdeep play alongside (Jasprit) Bumrah. Is it Hardik’s (Pandya) strength to bowl six yorkers when the ball is wet and you’re under pressure, or is Shivam Dube able to bowl 6 yorkers regularly?” Pathan answered.
“A question will be asked there. Can you therefore consider Arshdeep? But a team that has been playing and winning is hard to replace. Playing a batter less would not be desirable. It’s a difficult choice. The team is thinking differently than I would have,” the former left-arm seamer for India continued.
It remains to be known if they will use Arshdeep or bring in a different batter: Abhishek Nayar
In the last match against Oman, India rested Bumrah and Chakaravarthy, allowing Arshdeep and Harshit Rana to play in the meaningless match. But according to Abhishek Nayar, India will start the same team that participated in the tournament’s opening two matches against Pakistan.
“That’s how it appears. Varun Chakaravarthy is coming back. That one alteration will undoubtedly be noticeable to you. It remains to be seen, though, if they will use Arshdeep or bring in another batter. They will likely have the same squad that played earlier, in my opinion. There won’t be many changes,” he said.
According to the former Indian team assistant coach, the team’s overall composition is appropriate for the UAE’s climate.
“In Dubai, spin bowlers have made a difference. Hardik, who is bowling well, is there, and Bumrah will return. So, is a third seamer required? So far, Dube hasn’t bowled horribly. He has fulfilled his part. Without a doubt, he will give you one or two overs. Therefore, if you look at that team’s entire structure, it’s appropriate for these circumstances,” Nayar noted.
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