India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium due to a hamstring injury. The setback, confirmed minutes before the toss, forced India to reshuffle their playing XI on the biggest stage of the tournament.
Pandya’s injury concern first surfaced during India’s Super Four match against Sri Lanka, where he bowled just one over before walking off the field. Medical assessments later revealed discomfort in his hamstring, and despite intensive rehabilitation, he was deemed unfit for the final. Captain Suryakumar Yadav stated at the toss that Pandya “hadn’t recovered fully” and was left out as a precautionary measure.
With Pandya unavailable, Rinku Singh was drafted in as his replacement. The team also made tactical adjustments, leaving out Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana to balance the attack. India’s management now faces the challenge of compensating for Pandya’s dual role as a middle-order finisher and a seam-bowling option in high-pressure overs.
The absence of Pandya is widely seen as a significant blow to India’s strategy. His ability to strike in the death overs and stabilize the batting order has been instrumental in the tournament so far. Analysts note that without him, India loses crucial balance, especially against a side like Pakistan known for its strong bowling unit.
Cricket experts have also highlighted how workload management has become a recurring issue for Pandya. Injuries have hampered his international career repeatedly, raising questions about long-term fitness and India’s reliance on him in multi-format tournaments.
For now, the focus shifts to how India can adapt. With Rinku Singh and other all-rounders stepping up, the final promises to be a test not only of skill but also of resilience without one of the team’s biggest match-winners.
