IND vs UAE, Asia Cup 2025: Harshit Rana Or Arshdeep Singh
With India set to kick off their Asia Cup 2025 campaign against the UAE, the team combination—especially in the bowling department – is one of the most talked-about aspects leading into the match. At the heart of the pace attack is Jasprit Bumrah, India’s proven match-winner and strike bowler, whose return to white-ball cricket is being closely watched by fans and experts alike.
But while Bumrah is a guaranteed starter, the question that looms is: who will partner him with the new ball?
Harshit Rana or Arshdeep Singh or both?
Two young pacers are in the fray: Harshit Rana, the IPL breakout star known for his aggressive spells and raw pace, and Arshdeep Singh, the crafty left-armer who brings variety with his swing and ability to bowl at the death.
Rana offers a different kind of energy – he thrives on bounce and isn’t afraid to go hard at batters. On the other hand, Arshdeep has already shown he can hold his nerve under pressure, particularly in crunch T20 moments. Both offer unique tools, but only one might get the nod to share the new ball with Bumrah, depending on the match-up strategy.
Hardik Pandya: The X-Factor
Another key figure in India’s pace lineup is Hardik Pandya, who, as the seam-bowling all-rounder, brings not just balance but flexibility. Whether it’s bowling a couple of overs in the Powerplay or coming in as a change-up option during the middle overs, Hardik’s role could be crucial – especially if India opt to go with only two specialist fast bowlers to accommodate more spin options.
What’s encouraging is that Hardik, after a long injury layoff, has slowly found rhythm again. His workload, like Bumrah’s, is being managed carefully, but his presence adds a great deal of depth.
Spin Attack: Kuldeep & Varun Lead the Charge
With the game being played in Dubai, spin will undoubtedly play a key role. India are expected to go in with Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm wrist-spinner who has rediscovered his mojo in recent months, and Varun Chakravarthy, the mystery spinner who can exploit sluggish UAE pitches.
Supporting them will be Axar Patel, the reliable all-rounder who offers both control and the ability to chip in with the bat, and Shivam Dube, who is slowly carving out a niche as a spin-hitting lower middle-order batter who can also roll his arm over when needed.
Team Management Focused on Balance
The overarching theme of India’s squad selection appears to be balance – a mix of experience and youth, aggression and control, explosiveness and stability. And with the T20 World Cup just around the corner, every game in the Asia Cup doubles as a testbed for combinations and roles.
Team India, under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy, have shown signs of embracing a fearless brand of cricket. But they’re also mindful of managing key assets like Bumrah and Hardik to avoid burnout ahead of bigger challenges.
Last Thoughts
Tonight’s game against the UAE might seem like a comfortable start on paper, but the real contest lies within the dressing room – who gets the opportunity, and who makes it count.
All eyes will be on the toss and the team sheet. Will India opt for raw pace with Rana? Will Arshdeep’s experience in pressure games give him the edge? Or will both play, with Hardik slotting in as the third seamer? Either way, the stage is set, and the race to form the ideal T20 World Cup squad starts now.