Why is Arshdeep Singh not Playing in IND vs PAK Asia Cup Final?

India is all set to take on Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final on September 28 at the Dubai International Stadium, Dubai. The toss took place a few minutes ago, where Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav won and decided to field first. After playing incredible cricket throughout the tournament, India has finally reached the finals and will be hoping to take the trophy home. Meanwhile, the Men in Blue have made a few changes to the playing XI ahead of the final match.

Arshdeep Singh Not Included in Playing XI Against Pakistan

Despite a brilliant performance in the previous match against Sri Lanka, management has decided to drop Arshdeep Singh from the final game. In place of him, Jasprit Bumrah comes into the playing XI. Moreover, one of the most dangerous batsmen of the shortest format, Rinku Singh, is also set to play his first match of the tournament since Hardik Pandya is ruled out due to injury. Arshdeep Singh Asia Cup final was not expected to be dropped, but the management preferred an extra batter over the left-arm bowler. He showed his full potential in the previous match when he was handed the ball to bowl the Super Over. Arshdeep gave away just two runs and took two wickets. It was quite unfortunate that he had to miss out on the final clash against Pakistan. The IND vs PAK Asia Cup final will be a cracking event since they meet for the third time in the tournament.

Hardik Pandya Is Ruled Out of IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2025 Final

India's best all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, was in red-hot form throughout the Asia Cup 2025. However, due to a niggle, he had to miss the final match against Pakistan. In the previous match against Sri Lanka, Pandya sustained an injury and had to leave the field mid-way. While nobody had anticipated the injury to be this serious, he had to sit out of the game. To replace him, the management brought in one of the best all-rounders in India, Shivam Dube, who is an all-rounder and has performed fairly well in the tournament.

This is the third time India and Pakistan have clashed against each other in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. In the first two matches, India were victorious. Hence, this upcoming match will be extremely crucial for both teams. The Men in Blue have some of the best players, especially classic opening batters like Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. They have been outstanding in the tournament. Meanwhile, Pakistan's bowling attack remains strong in the likes of Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi. If India manages to restrict Pakistan below 150 runs, it will be an easy win for them. However, if Pakistan score anything around 180-190 runs in the first innings, it will be a tough competition for both teams. India and Pakistan are meeting for the first time in the Asia Cup final, making it an extra special game for the fans to watch.