As the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan draws near, former Indian wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel has offered a provocative insight into what he believes should be India’s ideal playing XI. His strategy centers on a robust bowling attack, controversially suggesting the exclusion of all-rounder Shivam Dube.
During a discussion on his YouTube channel, Patel made a bold move by favoring left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh over Dube. This decision is particularly notable given Dube’s previous success against Pakistan in the Super-Four stage, where he claimed two vital wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Arshdeep, despite a challenging spell conceding 46 runs in four overs during the Super-Four match against Sri Lanka, later proved his mettle with an exceptional 19th over that yielded just 11 runs, followed by a brilliant two-run Super Over performance.
Patel’s envisioned Indian lineup for the grand finale features a formidable squad: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Varun Chakaravarthy. This carefully selected team aims for depth in batting, extending all the way to number seven, while simultaneously providing six potent bowling options. This emphasis on bowling comes as India has sometimes struggled with early batting collapses in high-stakes encounters.
However, there’s a significant wildcard in India’s preparations: Hardik Pandya’s recent injury during the match against Sri Lanka. He had to leave the field after bowling just a single over. While initial reports cited cramps, his prolonged absence for the remaining 19 overs has fueled speculation. Should Pandya be deemed unfit for the final, the team composition could shift dramatically, potentially opening the door for both Dube and Arshdeep to feature, further bolstering the bowling unit.
When asked about potential game-changers, Patel confidently stated, “I think Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma will have the most opportunities because they play at the top. I think Shubman Gill can be the player of the match.” This highlights his faith in the top-order batsmen to deliver a decisive performance on the big stage.