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Aakash Chopra criticises India’s Asia Cup XI vs UAE for dropping Arshdeep Singh and relying on spinners, questioning team strategy.
Jasprit Bumrah is the only genuine pacer in India’s XI (Picture credit: AP)
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra has said that India’s playing XI for their Asia Cup opener against the hosts UAE has a ‘Champions Trophy hangover’, highlighting how India went in with three spinners and just one genuine pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, in the XI, dropping Arshdeep Singh.
The star pacer is India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, stranded on 99 wickets after just 63 appearances.
The Indian team unveiled their playing XI after ending their barren run with the toss and opting to bowl first.
“I think it has a Champions Trophy hangover in this playing XI, that was March, that was dusty, I have never seen that square as dry as I saw in March in Dubai. But this is September and they have gone with the same tactic, albeit in a different format,” Chopra said while speaking on ESPNCricinfo.
“Is that actually the way India are going to plan? You have to pick your best team. Arshdeep Singh. 99 wickets, Arshdeep Singh has got more wickets, better numbers than Jasprit Bumrah in T20s for India,” Chopra added.
During the Indian team’s last T20I assignment, Arshdeep featured in three out of the five games against England at home.
India opted to bowl against the United Arab Emirates in their opening game of the Asia Cup in Dubai on Wednesday.
The match marks the return of Shubman Gill to T20Is and he will open alongside his Punjab teammate Abhishek Sharma.
As per the team sheet, skipper Suryakumar Yadav is expected to come in at No. 3 ahead of Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson, who are slated to bat Nos. 4 and 5, respectively.
India are going in with one specialist pacer in Bumrah, while the other pace-bowling option is Hardik Pandya.
Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy are the two frontline spinners in the playing eleven, with Axar Patel in the XI as well.
September 10, 2025, 20:50 IST
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