The star India National Cricket Team left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has been selected by Irfan Pathan in the playing XI for the Asia Cup 2025 final against the Pakistan National Cricket Team.
India and Pakistan will go head-to-head with each other in the final of the Asia Cup for the first time in the history of the tournament on September 28, and the match will be hosted by the Dubai International Stadium.
First things first, he’s like an ice – Irfan Pathan on Arshdeep Singh
During a discussion on Sony Sports Network, Irfan Pathan lavished rich praise on Arshdeep Singh for being calm and composed in pressure situations.
He said that Arshdeep Singh is a must-have in the playing XI in the Asia Cup final because India will need two pacers who can bowl yorkers from both ends. He said:
“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 [when both play together]. 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.
“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,” the former India all-rounder added.
Arshdeep Singh steered India to victory against Sri Lanka
The 26-year-old fast bowler from Punjab has only got the opportunity to play two matches in the Asia Cup 2025 despite being the leading wicket-taker for Team India in T20I cricket.
He has been forced to warm the bench due to the one-specialist pacer strategy employed by the Gautam Gambhir-led team management in the ongoing edition of the continental tournament.
Jasprit Bumrah has been playing as the main pacer of India, with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube supporting him with their seam-bowling.
Arshdeep first featured for India against Oman when Bumrah was rested, and he returned with the figures of 1/37. Then, he played the inconsequential match against Sri Lanka when again India decided to rest Bumrah.
Arshdeep Singh didn’t look in good rhythm in the powerplay and was taken to cleaners while defending the score, but he displayed a good performance at death, eventually finishing with the figures of 1/46.
However, he saved the best for last and restricted Sri Lanka to a score of 2 while taking 2 wickets in the Super Over to play a massive role in India maintaining their winning streak in the Asia Cup 2025
I think Arshdeep did what he does best, bowled really well at the death – Varun Aaron
Speaking on ESPNCricinfo, the former India pacer Varun Aaron lauded Arshdeep Singh’s heroics in the death overs. He stated that the pacer stuck to his plans and executed them to perfection in the Super Over.
“I think Arshdeep did what he does best, bowled really well at the death. We have seen time and time again, no matter what he does in his first two or three overs, he has the composure to really deliver at the death, and that is what he did.
“Even in the super over, it was him sticking to his plans, he stuck to the wide lines, which is not easy for a left-arm pacer, and he did it with utmost perfection,” Aaron said.