Arshdeep Singh is the quickest Indian to reach 100 wickets in the T20I format. However, he has not secured a place in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 team. India has opted to play with a one-pacer (Jasprit Bumrah) and three-spinners combination, with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube filling in the role of the fifth bowler. But former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan opined that Arshdeep should be playing in the final against Pakistan on Sunday alongside Bumrah as both seamers can bowl relentless yorkers in tandem from either end in the final overs of the innings.
“First things first, he’s like an ice. When the pressure is on, he asks for the ball and bowls. In the end overs, he is ready to bowl his yorkers. He bowls yorkers in tandem with Jasprit Bumrah [when both play together]. He is a bowler of that quality. For me, it’s nothing new. I have been saying from the first day that he should be in the playing XI,” Irfan said, speaking on Sony Sports.
“There are situations when you need yorkers from both ends. Today, the match went on till the very end. But, the Indian team’s thinking is that we need a long batting line-up. So, Shivam Dube is playing as an all-rounder. Since he is playing, Arshdeep is not finding a place. He will always be there in my playing XI,” the former India all-rounder further explained.
Arshdeep, although he looked a bit rusty in the game, nailed his final over when the pressure was on against Sri Lanka last evening. Captain Suryakumar Yadav also showed faith in him to throw the ball in the Super Over, in which Sri Lanka could only manage to get two runs. “He (Arshdeep) has delivered for us the last 2-3 years. I told him to back his own plans and try to execute. He has been there in that situation many times and he has done really well for India and for his IPL side. His confidence says it all. None other than Arshdeep to bowl that Super Over,” Surya said at the post-match Presentation.
The postIrfan Pathan analyses why India needs to play both Arshdeep and Bumrah in Asia Cup 2025 final: ‘We need a long batting line-up. So, Shivam Dube is playing…’ | Cricket News appeared first on Indian Express
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