India will aim to earmark their dominance in the Asia Cup again when the 2025 edition kicks off on September 9. The Men in Blue are the most successful side in the competition and were winners in the last edition, albeit in the ODI format. The Asia Cup 2025 serves as an early dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup next year, with Suryakumar Yadav leading a settled Indian outfit.
Despite winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, India have since undergone a transition. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja have retired, while Gautam Gambhir is the new head coach. Gambhir is a big believer in bowling specialists and India’s attack would be spearheaded by none other than Jasprit Bumrah. Before the tournament, let us look back at how the Indian bowlers have performed in 2025. Note: Only T20Is are considered, and not all T20 games.
Arshdeep Singh
- Matches: 3
- Wickets: 4
- Economy: 7.88
- Strike Rate: 17.5
India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is. Arshdeep Singh has been a constant in India’s T20I sides and has enjoyed a good run of form in 2025. The left-arm pacer picked up 4 wickets in the series against England earlier in the year. Singh also enjoyed a fine IPL campaign, helping Punjab Kings reach the final. He has 99 wickets in 63 games and could become the first Indian to reach 100 T20I wickets.
Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah has not played a T20 for India since the 2024 World Cup Final. Bumrah’s commitments wit the Test team and his injury meant the shortest format of the game took a step back. When fit, the Indian spearhead is amongst the best in the business. He finished the recent IPL with 19 wickets despite missing the first few games due to injury. He averages a stellar 17.74 and concedes at less than 7 an over in his T20I career, making him an invaluable asset.
Harshit Rana
- Matches: 1
- Wickets: 3
- Economy: 8.25
- Average: 11
India’s wildcard pick for Asia Cup 2025. Harshit Rana played his only T20I earlier this year in Pune, replacing Shivam Dube as a concussion substitute. He snapped up 3 wickets, enough to convince the Indian selectors to pick him for the Asia Cup. Rana will likely be a fall back option in the Indian squad, but his ability to hit the deck at pace could turn out to be key. Rana had a lacklustre IPL with 15 wickets, but will hope to turn that around should an opportunity arise.
Kuldeep Yadav
Like Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav’s last T20I came in India’s epic T20 World Cup final win over South Africa. Yadav had been out of the side due to injury and only returned this year for the Champions Trophy. The 30-year-old averages a lowly 14.07 in T20Is, with an economy of less than 7. With surfaces in UAE set to aid spin, Kuldeep will be a handful for the opposition to deal with. In IPL 2025, Yadav picked up 15 wickets at a strike rate of 20.
Varun Chakravarthy
- Matches: 5
- Wickets: 14
- Economy: 7.66
- Average: 9.85
- Strike rate: 7.7
Varun Chakravarthy made a comeback to the Indian side late last year and has set the stage on fire. He ran through the England line up in the 5-match T20I series earlier this year, picking up 14 wickets. Varun followed it up with a dominating performance in the Champions Trophy, with 9 wickets in 3 games. India will play at the same venues in the Asia Cup as they did in the Champions Trophy, making Varun an enticing bowling option.
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