Spin great Ravichandran Ashwin shared his thoughts on a possible tweak India could make to their playing XI for the Asia Cup 2025 clash against Pakistan, scheduled for Sunday, September 14, in Dubai. While he stopped short of making a direct suggestion, Ashwin subtly hinted that pacer Arshdeep Singh should be included for the high-voltage encounter.
When asked about potential surprise performers for India, Ashwin named opener Abhishek Sharma and spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, before also mentioning Tilak Varma, who is yet to get a chance with the bat. He further expressed hope that someone from the bench could emerge as an unexpected hero. Notably, Arshdeep was not part of the playing XI in India’s opening match against the UAE.
“I dont think there are many options of someone who can surprise from India. All of them have performed well and the team is amazing top to bottom. Unexpected hero can be Tilak Varma. Because he has not got an opportunity to bat and no one knows when it will come. But I hope that unexpected hero comes from the bench, that is Arshdeep Singh. Because everyone thinks he might not play,” he said on ‘Ash ki Baat’. (27:19)
Ashwin felt the batting lineup should stay unchanged, supported Abhishek Sharma to play aggressively upfront, and cautioned Pakistan that attacking could backfire in Dubai’s conditions.
“There is no need to change the batting order because this wicket has had something in it. India will go hard. Abhishek Sharma will go hard. He wont take a step back. Pakistan with against spin with their bat have also not been amazing. If they go to attack a lot then they will find themselves in trouble against this Indian team,” he added. (29:20)
Ashwin discusses India’s data approach and Suryakumar Yadav’s distinctive batting style
In the same discussion, Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted how data aids players in enhancing their performance. He suggested that the next generation should make greater use of it, noting that leveraging data can contribute significantly to improving their game.
“I don’t see a lot of players using it, but there is some awareness about it. But players in the coming generations can use it a lot. When we used to play junior cricket, there was not a lot of data. Now you can get data and work on the speed and impact. The next generation of cricketers will grow up with this. A lot of coaches don’t know how to use this. But if you use it your game will go to a different level,” he said. (21:54)
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
