Could India Field Five Bowling Options Plus Abhishek for Asia Cup?

New Delhi, Sep 2 (NationPress) Former Indian left-arm fast bowler Irfan Pathan is of the opinion that a bowling lineup consisting of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, alongside all-rounders Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Abhishek Sharma could offer an optimal strategy for the upcoming Men's T20 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in the UAE from September 9-28.

India is set to compete in their Group A matches against UAE and a crucial showdown against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 10 and 14 respectively. The Suryakumar Yadav-led team will also take on Oman at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on September 19.

“In my perspective, the ideal bowling combination would include Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, along with two all-rounders, Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya, giving us five bowling options plus Abhishek Sharma. I am confident that Bumrah will be included, and Chakaravarthy is a definite choice due to his remarkable record. Arshdeep has been exceptional, proving himself as our leading bowler in T20Is.”

“We possess two outstanding all-rounders in Axar and Hardik—both capable of fitting into the top seven. While Axar can act as a floater, Hardik is reliable as a finisher. Naturally, circumstances may vary on any given day. However, having two all-rounders who excel at batting while also providing four overs of bowling allows you to strategically manage the game.”

“Since there is no impact player rule like in the IPL, the presence of all-rounders is beneficial. Plus, Abhishek Sharma offers additional bowling capabilities, contributing 1-2 overs when necessary,” Pathan stated during a virtual interaction organized by Sony Sports Network, the official broadcasters for the 2025 Asia Cup.

While the lineup appears robust, India still needs to finalize the number eight spot in their playing eleven. Pathan suggested that seam-bowling all-rounder Shivam Dube could be a viable candidate for that position, with Hardik, Axar, and Abhishek sharing the bowling responsibilities. He mentioned that fast bowler Harshit Rana could also be considered for his ability to hit big, or they might opt for a specialist wrist-spinner like Kuldeep Yadav.

“The selection for the number eight position is quite straightforward. It is possible that Shivam Dube could come in at number eight, but there’s flexibility; he can also bat higher to take on spinners effectively.”

“This flexibility allows Axar and Hardik to move up or down the batting order as needed, thanks to the numerous batters who can bowl. If you prefer Dube at number eight, that’s excellent. Alternatively, Kuldeep Yadav is also an option, along with another fast bowling choice in Harshit Rana.

Pathan further emphasized that the bowling setup for the Asia Cup will largely depend on the arid conditions in Dubai, which tends to become quite humid during evening matches, especially in Abu Dhabi. “The Indian team's strategy will depend on the pitch conditions. I hope we encounter dry pitches, as the weather in the UAE can be quite hot, which may favor spin.”

“The key consideration is that when dew sets in, your fast bowlers must be prepared, as you will require at least three of them, including Hardik. There are numerous options available, and it will be interesting to see which strategy the Indian team chooses,” Pathan remarked.

While the emphasis is on the bowlers for the Asia Cup squad, Pathan firmly believes that Mohammed Siraj, who is absent from the tournament, and Prasidh Krishna, currently on the standby list despite being the leading wicket-taker in IPL 2025, will have opportunities in T20Is leading up to the 2026 Men’s World Cup.

“Absolutely, they will have chances. We’re looking at a total of 20 matches leading up to the World Cup, so there will be ample opportunities. During this period, there will be several fluctuations in performance, injuries, and management decisions. Given Siraj’s Test performances in England, he won’t be far from contention.”

“Additionally, Prasidh Krishna won’t be far off either, as he had an excellent IPL season and narrowly missed selection. Players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer also missed out on selection.”

“There are many matches ahead, and everyone I mentioned will see playing time. Most players will get their chance because, in my opinion, 20 matches are a significant number,” he concluded.

Don’t miss the highly anticipated 2025 Asia Cup starting from September 9 on Sony Sports Ten channels, including Ten 1, Ten 5, Ten 3 Hindi, Ten 4 Tamil, Ten 4 Telugu, and on SonyLIV.