Ahead of the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup clash, Krishnamachari Srikkanth questions India’s 8-batter strategy — will the XI change?
Former World Cup-winning India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth has raised an eyebrow over Team India's move to include eight batters in their Asia Cup 2025 opener against UAE. The high-voltage Pakistan clash is just around the corner, and Srikkanth has called out the management to change the playing XI balance and reinstates a frontline pacer.
Talking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth was not diplomatic in his analysis.
"I told Arshdeep she should have played in the first game itself. Does India require eight batters to play 20 overs? Particularly against a team like Pakistan, do you require eight batters? We don't even know whether anyone other than four batters will get a chance."
India fielded only three regular bowlers – Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Shivam Dube – against UAE. The move left fans and pundits perplexed, given that Arshdeep Singh is India's top T20I wicket-taker.
Interestingly, Pakistan also played with a spin-dominated attack in their game against Oman, missing strike bowler Haris Rauf. Srikkanth feels that these kind of team picks are turning into a trend but cautioned that India cannot take too much from the bowling department when playing against Pakistan.
The issue is all things have become spin-based, and there is no support for medium pacers. But against Pakistan, you require that additional pacer who can turn the situation in your favor during the Powerplay and death overs," Srikkanth opined.
Srikkanth, however, rested assured about young opener Abhishek Sharma's capability to overwhelm the Pakistani bowling if he remains unbeaten till the early overs.
He scored even against England. Pakistan will attempt to bowl into his body and to his chest. But if he passes the initial stage, Abhishek Sharma will demolish the bowling," he forecast.
India decimated UAE in their first match, rolling them over for mere 57 in 13.1 overs. Kuldeep Yadav was the star of the show with four wickets (4/7), supported by three from Shivam Dube. India ran down the target in a mere 4.3 overs, ably led by Abhishek Sharma's blistering 30.
