The Asia Cup 2025 is all set to begin on September 09, and excitement among cricket fans is building rapidly. With teams gearing up for the much-anticipated tournament, cricket experts have already started sharing their predictions on who could shine and what combinations might work best. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has now joined the conversation, revealing his predicted playing XI for Team India in the marquee event.

Irfan Pathan picks India’s playing XI for the Asia Cup 2025

Solid openers

For the opening pair, Pathan went with Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. Gill has already established himself as a dependable run-getter across formats, while Abhishek brings an attacking edge at the top with his fearless stroke play. Pathan believes this left-right combination could provide India with the ideal balance of stability and aggression during the powerplay overs.

Powerful middle order

The middle order in Pathan’s predicted XI is packed with both experience and versatility. He picked Tilak Varma at number three, praising his temperament and ability to handle pressure situations. At number four, he included India’s current T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, who is widely regarded as one of the best T20 batters in the world. Sanju Samson has been slotted in as wicketkeeper-batter, with Pathan highlighting his recent form and ability to anchor or accelerate as per the team’s needs.

Dazzling all-rounders

In the all-rounders’ category, Pathan selected Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and one among Shivam Dube or Kuldeep Yadav depending on conditions. Hardik’s proven finishing skills and his utility with the ball make him a vital cog in India’s T20 setup. Axar adds balance with his left-arm spin and lower-order hitting, while Dube’s power-hitting or Kuldeep’s wrist spin could be chosen depending on the opposition and pitch dynamics.

Also READ: Irfan Pathan picks Sanju Samson’s ideal batting order for India in Asia Cup 2025

High-quality bowling attack

Pathan’s bowling unit combines raw pace with mystery spin. He included Jasprit Bumrah as the spearhead of the attack, alongside left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh. To complement them, he picked Varun Chakaravarthy, whose variations add unpredictability to the lineup. According to Pathan, this mix of bowlers offers India the right tools to dominate in crunch situations.

Irfan Pathan’s predicted XI of Team India: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube/Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy

High expectations from Team India

With the Asia Cup serving as a crucial preparatory stage ahead of future ICC events, expectations are sky-high for Team India. Pathan’s predicted XI blends youth and experience, providing balance across departments. Fans will be eager to see how close his vision matches the team’s actual combination when the tournament gets underway.

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