“He will always be there in my playing XI” - Irfan Pathan suggests a playing XI change in India vs Pakistan, Final

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has suggested that India should pick the pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh in the much-awaited final of the Asia Cup 2025 campaign on Sunday, September 28, in Dubai.

Speaking on Sony Sports Network, Irfan asserted that when the pressure is on in the death overs, Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah would come out on top with their yorkers in tandem to put their side on top.

"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,” Irfan Pathan said on Sony Sports Network.

"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," he added.

In the Super Four clash between India and Sri Lanka, the former brought in Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, replacing Shivam Dube and Jasprit Bumrah in the playing XI.

Moving into the details of the game between India and Sri Lanka, the former batted first and posted 202/5 in 20 overs. Opener Abhishek Sharma smacked 61 runs in 31 balls. In the chase, Sri Lanka took the game to the Super Over, thanks to Pathum Nissanka's (107) and Kusal Perera's (58). Nevertheless, India went on to win the Super Over quite comfortably, staying unbeaten in the campaign.

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