Could Kuldeep Be India’s Number Eight for the Asia Cup?

New Delhi, Sep 5 (NationPress) The iconic Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar has proposed that the Indian cricket team might consider utilizing left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav at the eighth position in their lineup for the forthcoming Men’s T20 Asia Cup, instead of broadening their batting lineup.

India's squad, led by Suryakumar Yadav, has addressed most aspects, yet the choice for the eighth position remains uncertain - whether to go for a batter capable of some significant hitting or an additional bowler.

With their initial Group A match against the UAE in Dubai set for September 10, India faces the crucial decision of whether to enhance the batting lineup or add another bowling option, a strategy that Gavaskar supports.

“I believe they might consider having Axar Patel at seven and not extending to eight, focusing instead on the bowlers. Kuldeep could fit in at eight, followed by three fast bowlers at nine, ten, and eleven,” he noted.

This configuration results in a total of four fast bowlers, including Hardik Pandya, along with two spinners, creating a strong bowling lineup of six, which can be beneficial if any bowler has an off day.

“Having six bowling options is wise. Instead of opting for an extra batter at eight, they might choose a bowler like Kuldeep,” Gavaskar remarked during a virtual interaction organized by Sony Sports Network, the broadcasters for the 2025 Asia Cup.

Kuldeep last played for India in T20Is during the 2024 T20 World Cup final, where India triumphed over South Africa by seven runs in Barbados. He has taken 69 wickets in 40 T20Is but did not feature in India's recent drawn Test series against England.

Gavaskar mentioned that the inclusion of Kuldeep would largely depend on the composition of the opposing batting lineup, considering whether they have left-handers or right-handers.

“His selection will heavily rely on the opponents’ batting strengths. Varun Chakaravarthy might have an edge for the first match, but I believe there’s a chance for Kuldeep to be included, with Varun possibly playing in subsequent matches,” he added.

With the 17th edition of the Asia Cup being India's first T20I since their 4-1 home series victory over England in January, Gavaskar emphasizes that this tournament is a vital opportunity to refine strategies ahead of the T20 World Cup title defense in 2026.

“Identifying reliable finishers is crucial. They have multiple options like Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube, along with Hardik Pandya and Tilak Verma. They’ll need to finalize their choices for the World Cup,” he noted.

Additionally, the team must focus on their death bowling strategy, with Jasprit Bumrah expected to bowl two of the last four overs, leaving the other two overs to be determined during the tournament.

Catch the highly awaited 2025 Asia Cup starting September 9 on Sony Sports Ten channels and SonyLIV.