Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Vs Abrar And Sufiyan: Analysing IND-PAK Spin Duo Before Asia Cup

IND Vs PAK: Which team has better spinners [Source: AFP Photo]

The wait is almost over as the Asia Cup 2025 is just around the corner, and eight teams will fight it out for the coveted trophy. Team India, under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, will be the favourites to win the title, but as history suggests, one should never rule out Pakistan out of contention, especially when they are down.

The Asia Cup will take place in the UAE, and the conditions there will be helpful for the spinners. While India has Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav as the main spinners, Pakistan have Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem as surprise weapons.

Both India and Pakistan have quality spin-bowlers in their arsenal, and let us analyse which spin duo is better and can help their side clinch the marquee tournament.

(Note: we are only analysing stats of proper spinners and hence, Axar, being an all-rounder misses out).

Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Vs Abrar, Muqeem: T20I stats at home

(T20I stats at home - plus Sufiyan is yet to play in Pakistan)

• The data clearly shows the domination the Indian spinners have over the Pakistan duo, however, Sufiyan Muqeem could be given benefit of doubt since he is yet to play a single T20I at home. However, if we compare Abrar Ahmed with any of the two Indian spinners, the difference is clear.
• While Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep have scalped 19 and 21 wickets at home (of course, they have played more), Abrar Ahmed has only 5 wickets in 6 T20I games, and the average is on the higher side as well (25.40).
• The Indian spin duo has clearly dominated the proceedings when it comes to T20I stats at home.

Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Vs Abrar, Muqeem: Away T20I stats

(T2OI stats away from home)

• The spin battle away from home is much closer than initially anticipated. Interestingly, all four spinners have dominated the proceedings when playing in away conditions.
• There is hardly anything to separate since all the four bowlers have similar stats - in terms of economy and average.

Why Indian spinners still have the upper hand over Pakistan duo?

Experience: Both Varun and Kuldeep Yadav have combined played 58 T20I games for India, which is more than the combined games played by Abrar and Sufiyan for Pakistan (31). In a big tournament like the Asia Cup, experience matters, and hence, India have a slight edge.

Wicket-taking ability: Varun and Kuldeep are wicket-taking bowlers and this cannot be said about the Pakistan dup, especially Abrar, who has generally struggled in this format.

Final verdict

The Abrar-Sufiyan duo is promising and could turn out to be a deadly duo for the next multi-national tournament, but when it comes to the current scenario, they lack the match experience and wicket-taking ability to trouble the opposition, and hence, Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav clearly win the battle.

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