Asia Cup 2025: "Arshdeep proves he's India's top T20I bowler" - Legendary spinner lauds Punjab speedster after Super Over heroics

Arshdeep Singh was one of India's standout performers during their T20 World Cup triumph last year in the USA and the West Indies. The left-arm seamer is also India's highest wicket-taker in the shortest format. However, he has not been a regular in India's playing XI during the ongoing Asia Cup.

The Gautam Gambhir-led team management has opted to play Jasprit Bumrah as the lone specialist seamer, with Hardik Pandya sharing the new ball with him. Shivam Dube has also rolled his arm over when needed. This has allowed India to play three spinners in the playing XI and also add more depth to the batting lineup. Arshdeep did play the inconsequential fixture against Oman and returned with figures of 1/37.

The Punjab Kings seamer replaced Bumrah in India's Super-Four clash against Sri Lanka on Friday, September 26, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. After proving to be expensive in his first two overs inside the powerplay during Sri Lanka's pursuit of a 203-run target, Arshdeep bowled with precision during the backend of the innings. After the match went into a Super Over, Arshdeep bowled brilliantly, picking up two wickets in five balls, giving away just two runs.

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was in awe of Arshdeep's talent, and he went on to assert that the 26-year-old should be a certainty in the playing XI.

“Before the Asia Cup itself, I was saying how Arshdeep Singh is absolutely mandatory in this Indian team. His point just got proven once again. What a terrific finish to the game. The way he bowled in the Super Over reiterated why he is mandatory,” Ashwin remarked while speaking on his YouTube channel.

“Yes, in this game, Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t there, which is a huge loss for any team, but he will return in the final, which will bolster India. But Arshdeep Singh has given a great account of himself once again to show why he is one of India’s premier bowlers," he added.

I will stick my neck out and say he is India’s premier bowler in this format: Ashwin

Despite Bumrah's presence in the side, Ashwin believes that Arshdeep is India's premier bowler when it comes to T20 cricket.

“When there is a Jasprit Bumrah in the team, no one really talks about Arshdeep Singh. But I will stick my neck out and say he is India’s premier bowler in this format. All the bowlers are very good, but he has staked his claim. He’s got 100 T20I wickets and once again proved why he is very good,” Ashwin concluded.

Arshdeep, who finished with figures of 1/46 in four overs in the main match against Sri Lanka, has accounted for 101 scalps in 65 T20Is at an average of 18.76 and an economy rate of 8.37.