India kicked off their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a resounding nine-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The Men in Blue made a statement with both bat and ball, dismissing UAE for just 57 in 13.1 overs before chasing the target in a mere 4.3 overs. However, one notable talking point from the match was the absence of star pacer Arshdeep Singh from the playing XI.
Arshdeep Singh, India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is and one of the world’s most reliable death bowlers, was surprisingly left out. Instead, India relied on Jasprit Bumrah as the sole frontline pacer, with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube providing supplementary pace options.
While this strategy proved effective against the UAE’s inexperienced batting lineup, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has voiced concerns about its sustainability in high-pressure scenarios against more vigorous opponents.
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“Arshdeep is the highest wicket-taker in T20Is. If he doesn’t play, it does raise eyebrows,” Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel. “Bumrah will bowl from one end, and spinners can manage the other overs till 15 or 16. But in situations where the ball is hard to grip because of dew, relying only on Hardik or Dube may not suffice. Hardik’s strength is pace and bouncers, not executing six perfect yorkers in an over like Arshdeep. On bigger grounds or tight matches, his absence will be felt. Arshdeep’s ability to deliver accurate yorkers under pressure is invaluable, and India will miss him in crucial stages of the tournament.”
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On the field, India’s bowling attack was clinical. Kuldeep Yadav took a stunning 4/7, while Shivam Dube impressed with 3/4, running through the UAE lineup. Bumrah set the tone early, picking up the first wicket with a pinpoint yorker.
The Men in Blue’s batting was equally dominant. Abhishek Sharma led the chase with a quickfire 30 off 16 balls, while Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 20, sealing the nine-wicket win in just 4.3 overs.
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While India’s start to the Asia Cup has been flawless, the absence of Arshdeep Singh will be a recurring talking point, particularly as the tournament progresses and the Men in Blue face more formidable opposition. Strategically, managing pace options and balancing spinners with seamers will be critical if India is to defend their title successfully.
