Follow UsFormer Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed his desire to see Arshdeep Singh in India’s playing XI for the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan in Dubai on September 28 (Sunday). The left-arm seamer delivered a match-winning Super Over against Sri Lanka in the final game of the Super Fours stage.
Arshdeep had earlier leaked 46 runs in four overs but redeemed himself in the Super Over, conceding just two runs to help India remain unbeaten in the tournament.
This was only Arshdeep’s second match of the Asia Cup 2025, as India had preferred Jasprit Bumrah as the sole frontline seamer alongside three spinners. He also played against Oman in the group stage, and even that game was a dead rubber since India had already qualified for the next round.
“First things first, he’s like an ice. When the pressure is on, he asks for the ball and bowls. In the end overs, he is ready to bowl his yorkers. He bowls yorkers in tandem with Jasprit Bumrah. He is a bowler of that quality. For me, it’s nothing new. I have been saying from the first day that he should be in the playing XI,” Pathan said, speaking on Sony Sports, as reported by the Indian Express.
“There are situations when you need yorkers from both ends. Today, the match went on till the very end. But, the Indian team’s thinking is that we need a long batting line-up. So, Shivam Dube is playing as an all-rounder. Since he is playing, Arshdeep is not finding a place. He will always be there in my playing XI.”
Arshdeep is India’s leading wicket-taker in the 20-over format, having claimed 101 wickets in 65 games at an average of 18.76 and an economy rate of 8.37. He is the only Indian bowler to have taken more than 100 wickets in T20Is.