Shivam Dube vs Faheem Ashraf: Who Will Be More Effective In IND-PAK Asia Cup Clash

Shivam Dube and Faheem Ashraf (Source: AFP)

India and Pakistan are all set to take on each other in what is expected to be the most high-octane clash of the Asia Cup 2025. Both the teams have some quality players in their arsenal, but Pakistan have struggled to win games consistently in recent times while India have been dominant.

India-Pakistan Trust All-Rounders In The Shortest Format

Salman Ali Agha's boys, though, won the recently held tri-series in the UAE, and like India, they are also trying to deepen their batting line-up with more all-rounders. Thus, Faheem Ashraf is playing the role of the third seamer, and with his batting prowess, he provides depth in that department as well.

India, on the other hand, went with only one frontline seamer against the UAE. It means that Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, the all-rounders, will play the role of second and third seamers. Hardik has done that job in the past, but Shivam Dube emerged as a surprise weapon with three wickets against the UAE. Thus, both of them have a key role to play for their respective countries and let's see who can be more effective in the upcoming India-Pakistan clash.

Shivam Dube vs Faheem Ashraf: T20I Batting Record

If we look at the T20I batting stats, Shivam Dube is way ahead of Faheem Ashraf. The Indian star has played 19 innings lesser than Ashraf but has scored more runs and has a respectable average and strike-rate. Shivam Dube. Faheem Ashraf's average is just 13.34 which is way below what is expected from an all-rounder. His overall T20 average is also under 20 and Shivam Dube also brings a power-game into picture which is crucial in the shortest format, especially lower down the order.

Also, Shivam Dube has hit 28 sixes and 37 fours in just 26 innings so far while Faheem Ashraf with lot more experience still has less fours in his account than the Indian all-rounder. Also, Shivam Dube has  the experience of doing well at number four  and plays as a specialist batter for CSK while Faheem Ashraf has only seven fifties in his 235 T20 matches.

Shivam Dube vs Faheem Ashraf: T20I Bowling Record

On the bowling front, Faheem Ashraf has lot more experience of bowling at the international level than Shivam Dube. The Indian star has not even bowled 50 overs in T20Is while has not been a four-over bowler consistently in the domestic cricket as well. Dube though has shown signs of improvement in 2025 and apart from this three-fer against UAE, he also bagged two wickets against England at the Wankhede.

However, Faheem Ashraf is a far more skilled bowler and has bowled in different phases of the game for Pakistan. He has the ability to swing the new ball and recently displayed his death-bowling potential with his four-fer against Afghanistan.

Also, Faheem Ashraf has an excellent economy rate of 6.07 in 28 overs he has bowled in UAE in his T20I career. Thus, on the bowling front, Faheem Ashraf looks a more reliable option than Shivam Dube.

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Impact Of Opposition Quality On Performance Of Shivam Dube And Faheem Ashraf

India have been a dominant force in the T20Is lately and has great quality in both the batting and bowling departments. Pakistan, on the other hand, have many inexperienced cricketers and they lack the power that India have in their batting arsenal. Thus, this factor could go in Shivam Dube's favour, and Suryakumar Yadav can take out two-three overs from him without any damage.

Faheem Ashraf, on the other hand, would have to bowl against some power-hitters. If he bowls with the new ball, there is Abhishek Sharma, and if he is used in death, he might have to tackle batters like Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube. These batters have destroyed the best of the bowlers in the past, and the medium pace of Faheem Ashraf might not be able to keep them quiet.

Also, as mentioned earlier, Shivam Dube has the skills to play even as a pure batter, and India can even use him in the middle overs to attack spinners. Faheem Ashraf, on the other hand, has batted mostly at number seven or eight and is likely to face Bumrah at the death, which will be difficult for him to tackle.

Conclusion:

Thus, Shivam Dube is likely to be more effective in the game against Pakistan due to his superior batting skills and the lack of quality in the opposition bowling attack. Faheem Ashraf is a better bowler but he would have to face a rampant India unit and thus could feel the heat in the high-octane Asia Cup clash.

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