India may have sealed their finals berth, but old cracks are beginning to show
At first glance, the scoreboard told a straightforward story: India defeated
Bangladesh by 41 runs in Dubai and progressed to yet another Asia Cup final. Five consecutive wins, unbeaten and commanding - a clear display of supremacy.
However, for those who looked beneath the surface, the game revealed something much more troubling. India, the world's No. 1 T20I side, appeared oddly fragile.
Sloppy fielding, costly lapses
India's most significant weakness has been disturbingly obvious: their fielding. Against Bangladesh, they dropped 5 catches, including 2 that could have decisively ended the game early.
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Numbers don’t lie. India's catching efficiency of just 71.4% in this Asia Cup is the third-worst in the tournament, behind only Sri Lanka and Hong Kong. For a team that prides itself on intensity, this is not misrely a shortcoming — it is a glaring red flag. Against stronger opponents, those chances will be ruthlessly punished.
Muddled batting order experiments
India’s batting lineup looks strong on paper, but a closer look shows some unnecessary changes. For instance, against Bangladesh, Shivam Dube was oddly moved up to No.3, and Sanju Samson — who was finding it hard to get into a rhythm — wasn't sent in even when India lost 5 wickets. Axar Patel, coming in ahead of some of the established finishers, struggled to score 10 from 15 balls, which slowed down the team's momentum.
They finished their innings with 168 runs, which isn't very impressive on what was a flat Dubai pitch. For most of the chase, Bangladesh seemed in control until a late-innings collapse cost them the game. If Saif Hasan hadn't played a reckless shot and gotten out, they might have actually won.
Bowling brilliance, but mismanagement?
India’s bowling depth is exceptional, but its resource utilisation warrants scrutiny. Jasprit Bumrah has been over-bowled in the powerplay, often leaving the death overs short of options. Kuldeep Yadav, who disrupted PAK with early wickets, was unnecessarily held back in this match. Shivam Dube, who turned a game against PAK with his bowling, was not called upon until the 18th over, when the game was already slipping away from Bangladesh.
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Yes, India boasts a bowling attack capable of suffocating opponents even on an off day. However, strategy is crucial, and in high-stakes finals, poor sequencing can undermine even the best-laid plans.
Papering over cracks
So far, India’s stark class divide has saved them. Against Oman, they hesitated but still managed to win. Against PAK, a nearly perfect ten overs with the ball secured the match despite fielding mistakes. And now, against Bangladesh, dropped catches and a confused batting order were overlooked as the opposition’s collapse took centre stage.
But such escapes will not last indefinitely. In a vital final — most likely again against PAK — these weaknesses could become decisive. A team can rely on luck only so much before fate catches up with it.
The final reckoning
India still appears to be a strong favourite to win the Asia Cup 2025. However, Bangladesh’s enthusiastic effort was a good reminder that even the biggest teams can have their ups and downs. The dropped catches, the risky experiments, and the bowling mistakes are all small issues that could cause problems if not handled carefully.
