Before the Asia Cup 2025, the Indian cricket team faces scrutiny, specifically about the starting lineup. With T20 cricket’s emphasis on explosive batting, the team’s opening strategy is a hot topic. Yet, questions about the bowling lineup are equally vital. How many spinners will the Indian team include, and can they thrive in the UAE’s conditions? These questions are important because the tournament, slated for September, is expected to be difficult for spinners.
The Asia Cup 2025 will take place in the UAE from September 9 to September 28. The team will play most of its matches in Dubai. The team won the Champions Trophy in February-March 2025 on the same ground. Returning to the same ground, India will likely again aim for the title, with the spin attack led by Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav.
Kuldeep and Varun’s 16 wickets in the Champions Trophy have led to high hopes. But these hopes might be dashed by the current UAE conditions. Unlike February-March, September’s weather will impact spinners. According to UAE cricketer Alishan Sharafu, heat and humidity will challenge spinners. Practice matches showed that it was difficult for the spinners to grip the ball due to humidity.
Though the outfield may be dry, the heat and humidity will make the players sweat, causing moisture. It can make it hard to grip the ball properly, as the shine remains for the entire 20-over innings, increasing the risk of it slipping. This means that spinners may struggle with line and length, especially for wrist spinners such as Kuldeep and Varun.
This problem isn’t just for the Indian team, and they might need to make changes to the playing eleven. India will need to choose one from the two spinners. Axar Patel will likely be the other spinner. India can’t include four bowlers who can’t bat. With Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, the team already has two fast bowlers who can’t bat, and one spinner might need to sit out.