Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin believes that it is 'mandatory' for the team to include Arshdeep Singh in their playing XI for the Asia Cup final against Pakistan. This comes after the left-arm pacer bowled a terrific Super Over in India's match against Sri Lanka on Friday. Notably, Arshdeep picked up two wickets and gave away just two runs from five deliveries as the Men in Blue continued their unbeaten run in the tournament.
Though Arshdeep did prove to be expensive in the match and gave away 46 runs in his four-over spell, Ashwin feels that the 26-year-old is India's 'premier bowler' in the shortest format and thus, cannot be made to sit out of the all-important final on September 28.
"Even before the start of the Asia Cup, I was saying that Arshdeep Singh is mandatory in the playing XI. He once again proved my point. What a terrific finish to the game, the way with which he bowled the Super Over, he reiterated why he's mandatory. In this game, Jasprit Bumrah wasn't there, which is a huge loss. Arshdeep Singh has once again given a great account of himself," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
"He showed why he is one of India's premier bowlers. When Jasprit Bumrah is there in the side, people won't talk much about Arshdeep, but I would stick my neck out and say he is India's premier bowler in this format," he added.
Arshdeep's brilliant T20I record
Though Arshdeep is the highest wicket-taker for India in T20Is, he has only played two matches in the tournament so far, picking up as many wickets. The Men in Blue have focused more on spinners in the competition as the UAE conditions do not provide much help to the pacers. They have decided to keep batting all-rounders Shivam Dube and Axar Patel in the XI for the majority of their matches.
It remains to be seen if Arshdeep will get a chance in the XI in the final against arch-rivals Pakistan. This will be the first time that the two teams will battle it out in the penultimate match of the Asia Cup. India have defeated Pakistan in the two encounters that have taken place between them in the ongoing tournament and now it remains to be seen if they will be able to do so in the final as well.