Asia Cup 2025: 'Surprised that people are still talking about these things' - Former wicketkeeper on India's rotation policy

Former Indian wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel has urged the Indian cricket fraternity to not scrutinise each and every decision made by the team management ahead of the final of Asia Cup 2025. The Men in Blue have won all six of their Asia Cup 2025 clashes ahead of the summit clash.

Parthiv explained the rationale behind resting Jasprit Bumrah for the dead rubber clashes as well as other bowling combinations to ensuring the cricketers to be at the top of their fitness levels in the crucial clash against Pakistan on Sunday, September 28. The 40-year-old also provided his opinion on the backups being match-fit in case an injury comes up.

"We can sit here and say why Bumrah is being used in rotation? Why did Hardik bowl only one over? There's a lot of heat in Dubai. It's easy to say that you have to bowl just four overs, play 20 overs and rest the whole day. It's not like that. It's important that Bumrah is 100% fit and fresh before the final. This rotation policy is right and important. It's important to rest him. India are playing with just one fast bowler. If Hardik is unfit, you need to play either Arshdeep or Harshit who should be match-ready as well. There is logic," stated Parthiv on his YouTube channel.

Parthiv remarked that there might be a lot of chances that Hardik Pandya does not recover for the final. He strongly suggested that Arshdeep Singh and Bumrah might feature together in case Hardik does not recover from his hamstring setback.

"Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav do not suddenly wake up in the morning and think to drop Bumrah. There are lot of discussions. I'm surprised that people are still talking about these things. I think we'll see Arshdeep playing the final. If Bumrah comes, he will come for Harshit. Shivam Dube also may not get a place. There's a question mark on Hardik's fitness. I feel Arshdeep and Bumrah will both play the final together. It was important for Arshdeep to get a game than playing the final directly," he added.

India will take on Pakistan for the first time in the final of the Asia Cup. The high-octane clash is scheduled to be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, September 28. India have already defeated the Green Shirts on two occasions earlier in the tournament.