While this combination performed admirably against the UAE’s young batting order, veteran all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes it may struggle against stronger opposition later in the tournament. Hardik opened the bowling for India, completing only one over and conceding ten runs.
Irfan Pathan, on the other hand, questioned how India might miss Arshdeep in stressful situations, and whether Hardik is capable of playing the role of a death-bowler.
India began their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a commanding nine-wicket victory over the UAE in Dubai. However, the Men in Blue omitted renowned pacer Arshdeep Singh from the playing XI. Arshdeep, India’s top wicket-taker in T20Is and largely regarded as one of the world’s best death bowlers, was left out of the XI. Instead, India selected only one frontline bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, who was supplemented by Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube.
“Arshdeep is the highest wicket-taker in T20Is. IF he doesn’t play, it does raise eyebrows. Understandably, he didn’t play in England (Test), but not playing here raises a scenario in my mind that when there will be a knock-out situation, Bumrah will bowl from one end, and definitely he will, cause he is the best bowler we have. However, from the other end, if spinners come in, it’s fine because you play with three spinners cause you will try the impact of spin continues till the 15th to 16th over. But if there comes a situation when the ball is tough to grip cause of dew, then it becomes tough.
This is so because, if you play only two pacers, obviously, you will count Shivam Dube, who gives you a fast-bowling option. But in tough times, you will choose Hardik Pandya over Dube. But is Hardik’s strength a yorker? Can he bowl six yorkers in an over? His strength is mainly bowling into the pitch, bouncer, and bowling hard length.
And if the game is stuck in that situation, what will be the way out? It will be great to see. Obviously, if you are playing on a big ground, you can still use bouncers; however, if we talk about a yorker, then you will miss Arshdeep. We saw him in the T20 World Cup, in IPL, and in other T20Is, showing that he can execute six yorkers in an over to perfection. So he will definitely be missed either today or tomorrow, cause only two fast bowlers will be playing,” Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
Meanwhile, in the game, Kuldeep Yadav (4/7) and Shivam Dube (3/4) ran through the UAE’s batting order, dismissing them for just 57 in 13.1 overs. Bumrah also delivered a pinpoint yorker to pick the first wicket. The chase was completed in just 4.3 overs, with Abhishek Sharma smashing 30 off 16 balls and Shubman Gill adding an unbeaten 20.
India
