The inclusion of Harshit Rana, who has just one T20I appearance to his name, has led to a pertinent question: Should he be part of the playing XI in such a high-stakes tournament?

One possible setup is to deploy all three frontline pacers, Bumrah, Arshdeep, and Rana, supported by Axar Patel and one of the two specialist spinners. In this scenario, Hardik Pandya would act as the fourth pace option, a role he fulfilled efficiently during the T20 World Cup 2024

India’s dual-spin threat of Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy is hard to overlook, especially considering their performances in the Champions Trophy 2025. Chakaravarthy emerged as one of the tournament’s standout bowlers with 9 wickets, while Kuldeep scalped 7 wickets, often operating in tandem to strangle opposition line-ups

Chakaravarthy, in particular, has been on a remarkable run since his return to the national side in 2024, claiming 31 wickets in just 12 matches. Kuldeep, too, has transformed into a consistent wicket-taker in white-ball cricket, providing breakthroughs in crucial phases

Given the conditions in the UAE and India’s current squad dynamics, the optimal bowling attack appears to be:

• Two frontline pacers: Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh
• Two specialist spinners: Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy
• Two all-rounders: Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel

In this setup, Harshit Rana would miss out, but the team gains control and variety, with six reliable bowling options, each capable of completing their full quota of overs. Hardik Pandya can comfortably operate as the third seamer, allowing the team to bat deeper while maintaining a potent bowling unit