India must sacrifice batting cushion for Arshdeep Singh's death edge in Asia Cup final

Arshdeep Singh's participation in limbo for Asia Cup 2025 final [Source: @BCCI/X.com]

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh will most likely be manifesting bowling against arch-rivals Pakistan as India gear up to face them in the Asia Cup 2025 final on September 28. But whether Arshdeep will make it to the playing XI or not is a head-scratching conundrum.

Arshdeep has got just 2 opportunities to play in this tournament, picking a wicket each against Oman and Sri Lanka and also nailing 2 dismissals in the Super Over against the latter.

Both appearances came when Jasprit Bumrah was rested, raising doubts about whether the 26-year-old fits into India’s preferred spin-heavy combination in UAE conditions.

Regardless, for the Asia Cup 2025 final against arch-rivals Pakistan, the men in blue must leave no stone unturned in making a space for Arshdeep Singh.

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Arshdeep Singh will complement Jasprit Bumrah

(Table: T20I stats of Arshdeep vs Bumrah when they played together)

India’s bowling attack looks far more balanced with both Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh operating in tandem. Statistically, the pair have excelled when fielded together, each collecting 19 wickets in 10 innings.

While Bumrah boasts a remarkable average of 8.5 and an economy of 4.2, Arshdeep brings wicket-taking bursts, including 3 three-wicket-hauls compared to Bumrah’s 2.

Hence, the right-left arm combination has yielded results in the past. The change of angle will trouble Pakistani batters, who lack the experience and precise technique to adapt.

Pakistan struggle vs the left-arm angle

(Table: T20I stats of above mentioned Pakistan batters vs left-arm medium pacers)

The left-arm angle has long troubled batters worldwide, and Pakistan’s relatively inexperienced batting order is no exception. For instance, opener Sahibzada Farhan has a 19.0 average in T20Is against left-arm medium pacers.

Fakhar Zaman, the explosive opener, has a 28.9 average, while Faheem Ashraf has a 14.2 average against the left angle. Hence, Arshdeep can rattle Pakistan in the powerplay as well as the death overs, as their entire batting lineup is somewhat weak against left-handers.

Whom should Arshdeep Singh replace?

The challenge for India lies in team balance. The management have leaned on a spin-dominant attack throughout the tournament, given the dry, slow conditions in the UAE. But that does not mean Arshdeep Singh cannot be India’s second pacer alongside Jasprit Bumrah.

India must strongly consider benching Shivam Dube to include Arshdeep in the playing XI against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final. While Dube provides depth with the bat, India’s middle order is strong enough to absorb his absence, especially with Abhishek Sharma in form.

Moreover, as per the pattern so far, the men in blue have leaked a lot of runs in the death. Recently, against Sri Lanka, the team also struggled to contain the flow of runs in the powerplay.

Hence, in a high-pressure game like the final, India need the extra cushion of bowling, and even if it comes at the expense of the batting depth, Suryakumar should play that gamble.

Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya are the right lineup to go forward.

Conclusion

Overall, depriving Arshdeep Singh, India’s most successful T20I bowler, of an opportunity to bowl against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final is not a sensible move. Let that left-right angle combination flow and see Pakistani willows scramble on the crease.

In a contest where margins are fine and pressure immense, India must prioritise bowling control over an additional batting option. Trusting Arshdeep Singh in the final is not just a tactical adjustment; it is a strategic necessity. The left-right pace combination could well tilt the balance in India’s favour and bring the Asia Cup 2025 trophy home.

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