Team India is ready for their journey in the Asia Cup 2025, as they are facing the hosts United Arab Emirates in the Group A match on Wednesday (September 10). While the Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav chose to field first in their tournament opener at Dubai, the main Indian T20I pacer Arshdeep Singh hasn't been included in the playing XI. 

The 26-year-old Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is the leading T20I wicket-taker for India with 99 wickets in 63 games, as he is one wicket away from becoming the first Indian bowler to record 100 T20I wickets. If he completes this feat in his next two games, he will become the fastest pacer and fourth fastest bowler to record 100 T20I wickets. The left-arm pacer is very strong in the T20 format with his swing bowling with the new ball and also can deliver effective yorkers in the slog overs. 

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Asia Cup 2025: Why is Arshdeep Singh missing from India's playing XI vs UAE?

However, in a shocker, Arshdeep isn't playing in India's T20 Asia Cup opener. India are going with one front-line pacer (Jasprit Bumrah) along with two pace-bowling all-rounders (Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya), one spin-bowling all-rounder (Axar Patel), and two spinners (Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy). In this all-rounder-heavy squad, India's leading T20I wicket-taker has to leave his spot at least for the tournament opener.

India are expecting spin-friendly pitches in the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE, and while the Men in Blues have two pace-bowling all-rounders along with the country's best pacer Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep has to fight for his place. 

India will play their remaining Group A matches of the tournament on September 14 and 19 against arch-rivals Pakistan and tournament debutant Oman, respectively. Although Arshdeep is missing India's tournament opener playing XI, he is likely to play against Pakistan.  

Asia Cup 2025: India vs UAE Playing XI

India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy