The defending champions, India, once again underlined their dominance by securing the Asia Cup 2025, lifting the trophy for a record ninth time. They remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, proving how far ahead they are of other Asian teams. But beyond the silverware, it seems the Men in Blue have found a new blueprint for success in the shortest format, with head coach Gautam Gambhir at the centre.
Taking over the reins from Rahul Dravid following India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, Gambhir was under immense pressure to carry the legacy forward. He immediately took some bold decisions, including appointing Suryakumar Yadav as India’s new T20I captain ahead of Hardik Pandya, who had led the side in 11 matches earlier. The decision drew heavy criticism at first but has since turned India into an unbeatable force in T20I cricket.
Gambhir produced another masterstroke during the five-match T20I series against England at home — India would field three specialist spinners, one pacer, and two pace-bowling all-rounders in the Playing XI. The move initially looked like a gamble but has paid rich dividends.
The strategy was first implemented against England earlier this year, with Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, and Varun Chakravarthy featuring in all games. India even played Washington Sundar as a fourth spinner in two of the five matches. The spinners responded spectacularly, taking 26 wickets between them, with part-timer Abhishek Sharma adding three more. Chakravarthy was the standout, claiming 16 wickets in five matches at a staggering average of 9.85 and an economy rate of 7.66.
The success of this approach saw India carry the same strategy into the Champions Trophy 2025, where all their matches were played in Dubai. Under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, India went with four spinners — with Kuldeep Yadav replacing Bishnoi and Ravindra Jadeja adding to the mix. The spin quartet again proved decisive, snaring 26 wickets in just five matches as India lifted.
The Asia Cup 2025 was considered the dress rehearsal for the 2026 T20 World Cup, to be held in India and Sri Lanka. While the spinners had already delivered results, they faced a new challenge against Asian teams, who are traditionally known to play spin better than pace. The Indian spinners, however, did not disappoint the captain or the management, producing a spectacular season.
In the final, they ripped through Pakistan’s batting line-up, sharing eight wickets between them in a statement performance on the big stage. Overall, India finished with the most wickets in the tournament — 51 — with Pakistan a distant second at 46. Of those 51 scalps, the spinners accounted for 31, at a remarkable average of 15.29 and an exceptional economy rate of 6.61. They also recorded the best strike rate of any side, taking a wicket every 13.8 deliveries on average.
Kuldeep Yadav emerged as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 17 dismissals, setting the record for the most in a single Asia Cup edition. Alongside him, Varun Chakravarthy claimed seven wickets, Axar Patel six, and Tilak Varma one, highlighting the depth of India’s spin arsenal.
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Each spinner in the trio brings a different skill set, operating style, and strength, adding variety and depth to India’s attack.
Kuldeep Yadav has been the standout performer across formats since increasing his pace through the air. The left-arm chinaman imparts heavy revolutions on the ball, gives it flight, and, most importantly, creates an angle that troubles batters. He is especially effective at trapping batters in front of the stumps, with his googly proving particularly difficult to pick.
Varun Chakravarthy is India’s mystery option, armed with several variations in his repertoire. Bowling at a higher pace than most spinners, he mixes up googlies, leg-breaks, top-spin deliveries, flippers, off-spin, and even the carrom ball. Since his comeback to the T20I setup, the tall leg-spinner with a compact, high-arm action has been India’s leading wicket-taker, with 38 scalps.
Axar Patel, meanwhile, provides control and consistency. The left-arm orthodox spinner is the most accurate of the three, rarely offering width for batters to free their arms. His ability to bowl with the new ball in the powerplay gives the captain a crucial option upfront. Beyond his bowling, Axar adds value as a gun fielder and a reliable lower-order batter, currently slotting in at No. 8 but capable of batting higher if needed.
India’s three-spinner tactic has thrived in spin-friendly conditions in India and the UAE. Their next challenge comes in October, when they face Australia in a three-match T20I series Down Under. The pitches there traditionally favour seamers, offering pace and bounce rather than turn. That could tempt India to tweak their formula and bring in an extra pacer.
However, given their recent success, the Men in Blue might still back their blueprint and test how it holds up on Australia’s batting-friendly surfaces. Even if they adjust, two spinners — Axar Patel and one of Kuldeep Yadav or Varun Chakravarthy — are still expected to feature in the XI.
The upcoming series will be a clear indicator of whether India’s spin-heavy strategy can adapt successfully across conditions worldwide or if it remains primarily a subcontinent-specific weapon.
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