Follow UsIndia will face Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai on September 28 (Sunday), and all eyes will be on the Men in Blue’s playing XI for the marquee clash. The biggest selection debate is likely to be between Shivam Dube and Arshdeep Singh.
India rested Dube and Jasprit Bumrah in the inconsequential Super Fours game against Sri Lanka on September 26 (Friday), giving Harshit Rana and Arshdeep some game time. The two seamers picked up two wickets between them but leaked 100 runs across eight overs.
Arshdeep, however, redeemed himself spectacularly in the match-winning Super Over, conceding just two runs to help India remain unbeaten in the tournament.
With Harshit set to make way for Bumrah in the final, the key question is whether India will pick Arshdeep over Dube. Opting for Arshdeep would lengthen the tail, with the batting effectively ending at No.7. Under Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav, India have consistently preferred an all-rounder at No.8, and it’s unlikely that approach will change for such a high-stakes game.
Dube, meanwhile, has filled the role of sixth bowler well in the Asia Cup 2025. The tall seamer has bowled 10 overs, claiming five wickets at an average of 15.60 and an economy rate of 7.80.
India have already beaten Pakistan twice in the tournament, employing a combination of one frontline seamer and three spinners, with Hardik Pandya and Dube serving as the fast-bowling all-rounders. That formula is expected to remain intact for the final.
In India’s last encounter against Pakistan, the Men in Green were 91/1 after 10 overs before Dube dismissed both set batters, Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub. Thanks to his wickets, India restricted Pakistan to 171 and chased it down comfortably.
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy