After a month-long break, Team India will resume international cricket with their Asia Cup 2025 opener against the UAE in Dubai on Wednesday, September 10. The Men in Blue enter the tournament on a remarkable run in T20Is, having clinched five consecutive bilateral series and winning 17 of their last 20 matches. 

Their dominant form also includes a flawless campaign at the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA, where they lifted the trophy unbeaten. Heading into the Asia Cup, India is once again seen as firm favorites, but that doesn’t mean the side is free from selection dilemmas. 

Suryakumar Yadav and the team management face some tricky choices when it comes to finalizing the playing XI, given the balance between bat and ball. The 15-member squad provides multiple combinations, especially in the bowling department. The challenge lies in maintaining batting strength while ensuring the bowling attack remains effective across conditions.

See Also: 'What Is the Need to Play Bumrah?' – Former Indian cricketer questions selection for Asia Cup 2025 clash against UAE

Probable Reasons why India shall go for Spin Duo Kulddep- Varun Together?

India enters the Asia Cup 2025 with a strong bowling unit featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav. However, none of these four bowlers are reliable lower-order hitters, which could leave the side exposed with a long tail. This concern may force the management to rotate one of them out of the XI depending on match conditions.

Despite that, the spin twins Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy remain crucial to India’s campaign. Their ability to trouble batters on slower, gripping tracks in the UAE gives them a tactical edge. Playing both spinners together will not only boost wicket-taking options in the middle overs but also add variety to the attack.

• India holds the blueprint to balance strengths perfectly in the Asia Cup

India doesn’t have to look far to realize the value of pairing Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav. During the Champions Trophy 2025 in ODIs, the Men in Blue relied on both spinners in their final three matches, showcasing how effective the duo can be when included together in the playing XI.

The Champions Trophy 2025, held in the UAE, offered India a clear example of how effective their spin attack can be. In that tournament, the Men in Blue won all three of their final matches with ease, as Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy combined to pick up 13 wickets together, dominating opposition line-ups.

Another highlight was India’s balanced team composition. Despite including both spinners, they managed to extend their batting till No. 8 by playing only one specialist fast bowler, while Hardik Pandya filled in as the second seam option. This approach provided both depth in batting and strength in spin, a strategy that could be replicated in the UAE’s spin-friendly conditions during the Asia Cup 2025.

• Dropping either Kuldeep or Varun may weaken India’s middle-over threat

India’s bowling unit may look balanced on paper, but dropping either Varun Chakaravarthy or Kuldeep Yadav could upset that balance. Without one of them, the Men in Blue would rely on just three frontline bowlers, supplemented by all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, which risks weakening their overall bowling depth.

With Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh excelling with the new ball and in death overs, India will likely prefer using the pair mainly at those stages of the innings. Their strength lies in early breakthroughs and closing matches effectively.

This approach, however, shifts greater responsibility onto the middle overs. The bulk of this phase could fall on either Varun Chakaravarthy or Kuldeep Yadav, supported by Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Shivam Dube. While Axar and Hardik provide stability with their economical spells, they are better suited to containing runs rather than consistently striking, making a specialist spinner’s role critical.

India’s success in the Champions Trophy was largely built on their ability to pick wickets consistently during the middle overs. Without that breakthrough power, set batters could dominate later stages. Playing both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy enhances India’s bowling depth, keeping pressure on opponents across all phases and increasing the team’s chances of repeating past Asia Cup successes with a well-rounded attack.

• Varun and Kuldeep’s form boosts balance and impact for India

Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy currently stand among the finest white-ball spinners in world cricket. Since his comeback to the national side last year, Varun has consistently impressed, establishing himself as the top-performing T20I bowler globally.

Varun Chakaravarthy has been in sensational form, claiming 31 wickets in just 12 T20Is at an impressive average of 11.25 and an economy of 7.85. His consistency makes him a proven match-winner.

Conversely, Kuldeep Yadav was instrumental in India’s flawless 2024 T20 World Cup run, claiming 10 wickets across five games at an impressive average of 13.90, while maintaining an economy below seven. Even without recent T20Is, his ODI and IPL performances underline his continued white-ball excellence.

Fielding both spinners together gives India flexibility and unpredictability. With Kuldeep dominating the middle overs, Varun’s versatility to bowl at different stages could help India dismantle key partnerships in the Asia Cup 2025.