Suryakumar's Surprise Bowling Move Seals Asia Cup Victory

On October 25, 2025, during the highly anticipated Asia Cup final between India and Pakistan, India captain Suryakumar Yadav made a surprising decision by entrusting the new ball to allrounder Shivam Dube. This move was necessitated by an injury to regular pace spearhead Hardik Pandya, who missed the final.

Dube, who had bowled just 10 overs in five matches leading up to the title clash, responded to Suryakumar's faith by delivering a solid performance. He conceded just a boundary in the first over and went on to bowl three wicketless overs, allowing only 23 runs as Pakistan were bowled out for 146.

Suryakumar, who has been playing with Dube for the past seven-eight years, expressed confidence in the allrounder's abilities, stating that he has been working hard on his bowling. The India captain said he would not hesitate to deploy Dube in a similar role even against a quality side like Australia, as long as the player's preparation is solid.

Dube's impressive display in the high-pressure Asia Cup final has further bolstered his credentials as a valuable all-round asset for the Indian team.