Asia Cup: While the Indian bowlers have shone in patches, the wicket-taking ability of some, seems to have taken a hit.
The Indian team has been the best of the lot in the Asia Cup 2025, and hence maintained their 100% winning rate in the tournament. Yes, they did face a threat in the final Super 4 game vs Sri Lanka on Friday, but still the team displayed nerves of steel to take it to the super over, and then register a victory.
But it must be admitted, that though Suryakumar Yadav’s have been the best, but they are yet to show their best, especially when it comes to bowling. Somehow, that is one department where the team has, in fact struggled. Let’s get straight to the point. In the six matches played by the Indian team, they have only managed to pick 41 wickets out of 60.
In the first match vs UAE, they picked all 10, followed by nine in the September 14 match vs PAK. Against Oman only picked four wickets, then against Pakistan in Super 4, five wickets, Bangladesh 10, and Sri Lanka only five. Consistency has been missing despite India playing five of their matches in Dubai.
Kuldeep Yadav among wickets, lacks support
The chinaman is tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 13 scalps, and has been economical as well, which stands at only 6.04. But somehow the support is missing from the other spinners. Varun Chakravarthy, who is generally good, has only picked up five wickets in as many games. His strike-rate has been at 21, which isn’t great in a T20I tournament.
Axar Patel has been worse, picking up four wickets in six matches, and strike-rate has been 24. So, in the middle-overs where the spinners take over, India’s only wicket-taking bet is Kuldeep. If he doesn’t fire, then opposition batters make hay.
Not the best tournament for Jasprit Bumrah?
His five wickets in four matches aren’t bad, but then team just somehow needs more from him. The problem also is, he returned with figures of 0/45 against PAK in the last encounter. So, India would hope he comes up with an extra-ordinary performance in the final. Other than that, the second pacer in Hardik Pandya has had troubles. 6 matches and four wickets at an economy of 8.57.. That has put additional pressure on team.
Expensive Arshdeep Singh & Harshit Rana
Now, it doesn’t happen often that Arshdeep, who happens to be India’s most successful T20I bowler, has a bad time in the office, but then, that happened. Against Oman he returned with figures of 1/37 and vs Sri Lanka 1/46. His economy stands at 10.37. The other option that India has tried, is that of Harshit Rana. Two wickets in two matches, and the economy has been over 11. So that leaves Surya in a dilemma, whether to play a specialist second pacer or not.
Shivam Dube somehow has been good – picked up five wickets in the tournament, but can he be relied upon to do the job in crunch situations?
All-in-all, amends are needed in the bowling department. Yes, there have been many fielding slip ups in these matches, but economy is something that needs to be taken care off, as well. The Pakistan final will be a high-pressure match, and bowling might just play a bigger role in the match.
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