As the cricketing world turns its gaze to the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan showdown in the Asia Cup 2025 on September 14, former Pakistan captain and fast-bowling legend Wasim Akram has raised a red flag for his country’s team – particularly regarding India’s spin attack.
India’s spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Axar Patel has quickly emerged as perhaps the most potent in world cricket today. And with India riding high after a commanding performance against UAE – a match where Kuldeep Yadav returned remarkable figures of 4 for 7 – momentum is firmly on their side.
For Akram, the real threat to Pakistan doesn’t lie in India’s new-ball attack, but rather in their spinners, especially the wristy deception of Kuldeep and the mystery of Varun Chakaravarthy.
“The problem I see for Pakistan is their middle-order batting versus India’s spinners. You can see off Jasprit Bumrah, but the likes of Varun and Kuldeep could trouble the batters. If a batter tries to read the ball after it has pitched, it means you have no idea what is happening,” Akram warned.
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Pakistan’s middle order – comprising names like Salman Agha, Mohammad Haris, and young Hasan Nawaz has been under the scanner for its lack of experience against high-quality spin in pressure situations. Their vulnerability was on full display during the group stage clash against Oman. From a solid 89 for 1, Pakistan suffered a dramatic collapse, eventually slipping to 120 for 5 as their middle order struggled to decode Oman’s spinners.
Akram believes India will look to capitalize on exactly that weakness. And given the form of Kuldeep and Varun, the concerns are not unfounded. Both spinners bring a rare blend of variety and control – Kuldeep with his left-arm wrist spin that drifts and dips, and Varun with his unreadable variations and tight lines.
On pitches that offer even a hint of turn, the task for Pakistan’s batters becomes steeper. Reading bowlers like Varun off the pitch – rather than from the hand is often a recipe for disaster, especially for players still finding their footing at the international level.
India’s spinners have already shown they can run through a side with ease. With the high-octane clash looming, Pakistan’s preparation against spin will be under the microscope.
Will Pakistan find a way to counter India’s spin puzzle, or will Kuldeep and Varun prove to be the game-changers Akram predicts? All eyes will be on Colombo this Saturday.
