Team India, as the unbeaten side of the Asia Cup 2025, gears up for their forthcoming Super Four clash against Bangladesh on September 24 (Wednesday) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The opening combination of Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill blew up Pakistan’s bowling attack by setting up a healthy start for their team to chase a 172 target under tricky conditions.
Even after a commendable 6-wicket win over Pakistan, the men-in-blue exposed certain vulnerabilities that their opponents could easily exploit.
Here are the three big blunders the defending champions must rectify before they face off against the Tigers.
Multiple Dropped Catches
India’s fielding woes were evident right from the opening over. It’s not just about one or two, but four dropped catches plagued the team’s momentum and granted Pakistani batters a surprising lifeline.
Had Abhishek Sharma (2 dropped catches), Kuldeep Yadav (1), and vice-captain Shubman Gill (1) not worsened the situation, India could have converted their chances by bowling out their opposition for less than 100.
Fortunately, the Indian fielders’ butterfingers didn’t ruin their team’s success against Pakistan. But the continued lapses could prove embarrassing against Bangladesh.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Muted Performance
India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah seemed to be a diminished version of himself. The 31-year-old had a wicketless game against Pakistan after leaking 45 runs in his quota of 4 overs.
Although the UAE pitches are spin-friendly, Bumrah has had a forgettable outing so far. He bagged just 3 wickets in 3 innings of the Asia Cup 2025, averaging at 30.66 and an economy of 8.36.
It’s time for India’s veteran pacer to bounce back and revive his red-hot form against Bangladesh.
SKY’s Form and Samson Batting Position
The opening pair of Abhishek and Gill has proven to be like a “fire and ice” combination in the ongoing tournament.
Slotting the vice captain at the top order not only demoted in-form batter Sanju Samson from opener to No.5, but also disrupted the entire batting line-up.
Likewise, the captain Suryakumar Yadav’s form in recent T20Is raised a red flag for Team India. In 3 innings, he scored only 54 runs, including his best unbeaten 47-run knock against Pakistan in the group stages of the Asia Cup 2025.
India’s batting stability depends on the significant contributions from SKY and Samson, especially if they are keen to overcome the flaws seen in the Pakistan clash.
