With the Men’s Asia Cup 2025 now coming down to the wire after intriguing action across the United Arab Emirates, reigning champions - Team India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in the summit clash,
scheduled for September 28 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. While the Men in Blue will be coming on the back of an unbeaten streak, Pakistan have only lost two matches, both of which came against India.
Although the Suryakumar Yadav-led Men in Blue will look to correct their mistakes from their final Super Four match, which saw the match get tied and India pull off a victory in the Super Over, Pakistan, on the other hand will hope to avenge their two defeats and clinch the title. But ahead of the finale, the Indian team will hope to put their combination right.
He is shoulder to shoulder with Bumrah and mu st play: Irfan Pathan on Arshdeep Singh
As they eye to play their best XI, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan spoke highly of Arshdeep Singh - the Indian pacer who has only featured in two games so far in Asia Cup and proved pivotal in India’s Super Over win vs Sri anka. Speaking to the broadcasters after India’s triumph, Pathan said, “Look, first of all, he’s as cool as ice, mate. Under pressure, he asks for the ball. He bowls when it matters, and whenever it’s the last over, he nails the yorkers. He’s ready. Shoulder to shoulder with Bumrah, he delivers those yorkers. I think he’s a bowler of that quality.”
“I’ve been saying this from day one — it’s not just about today. He should always be in the playing XI, because there are situations when you need yorkers from both ends. You saw it yourself today — the match went right down to the wire. But the team thought we needed longer batting. And if you want longer batting, then Shivam Dube plays as an all-rounder. Now, if he’s playing, Arshdeep doesn’t get a spot. But in my team, Arshdeep will always be there. And I’ve been saying this from the very first day,” Irfan Pathan added.
India’s squad for Asia Cup:
Surya Kumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh
Standby players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel
