Parthiv Patel Picks India’s XI For Asia Cup Final Vs Pakistan, Drops Key All-Rounder | Cricket News

Former wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel included six bowling options for India’s playing 11 for the 2025 Asia Cup against Pakistan. He excluded Shivam Dube, who took two key wickets against the Men in Green when the sides met in the Super-Four at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Instead of Dube, Patel chose left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. It was the combination that India played with against Sri Lanka in the dead-rubber Super-Four match. Arshdeep was impressive, and though he conceded 46 runs in four matches, his figures included an excellent 11-run 19th over in the second innings and an even better two-run one when the match went into the Super-Over.

Parthiv Patel’s India playing XI for Asia Cup 2025 final: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Varun Chakaravarthy.

This team has batting till number seven. India have hardly required more than that, and six bowling options in the final could be a big boost for the Men in Blue. However, India have also been susceptible to top-order collapses in big matches.

Interestingly, there’s a good chance both Dube and Arshdeep play in the match. Hardik Pandya picked up an injury against Sri Lanka. He bowled the first over and went off the ground, missing the rest of the innings. Some reports said he had cramps, but it’s unusual for players not to come back for 19 overs due to cramps.

If he were to miss the game, Dube would be the best like-for-like replacement, and Arshdeep could come in to supplement the attack.

Parthiv Patel picks the Player of the Match for the Asia Cup final

Patel also predicted his Player of the Match for the big game, saying it would be between India’s openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma.

“I think Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma will have the most opportunities because they play at the top. I think Shubman Gill can be the player of the match,” he said.