According to Dinesh Karthik, India’s decision to have Shivam Dube in the starting lineup rather than Arshdeep Singh offers them the batting cushion they need to play the ultra-aggressive style of cricket that has served as the model under head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Some fans and commentators were taken aback when Jasprit Bumrah was named as the only specialist pacer in the playing XI for India’s Asia Cup opening match against the United Arab Emirates. Axar Patel, who batted at number five in the T20 World Cup final the previous year, is expected to enter at number eight thanks to this plan, which enables India to bat deep.
Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube were the seam-bowling all-rounders.
“Whoever I bring on board won’t significantly improve what this team is capable of. For instance, suppose you substitute Arshdeep Singh for Shivam Dube. Yes, he will offer you a little bit more with the ball, but I get more with the bat from Shivam Dube than that little bit is worth. Shivam Dube is not by himself. With that additional batter, it’s what the team can do. Thus, the entire batting strategy is altered,” Karthik told Cricbuzz.
Since Gambhir took over as head coach, the Men in Blue have won 14 of their 16 Twenty20 International matches. India’s strategy, which Karthik commended, calls for them to include as many batters in the starting lineup as possible. The Asian powerhouses have a clear plan with bat and ball, according to the former India wicketkeeper, and that bodes well for the T20 World Cup the following year.
“The reason I enjoy this is that they play high-octane, high-intensity cricket now, taking enormous chances at the top and maintaining a set pace regardless of the circumstances. And you need that additional batter if you want to tick all those boxes. India knows what they want to do, which makes them a powerful team in the run-up to this World Cup. Six months before a World Cup, they have a clear plan with bat and ball and follow it, which is always encouraging,” Karthik said.
On Sunday, September 14, India will play Pakistan in the sixth match of the 2025 Asia Cup, which is now taking place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
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