Team India are ready to take on arch-rivals Pakistan in the final of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium. The Men in Blue have been unbeaten thus far, but a very narrow escape in the Super 4 phase against Sri Lanka has raised eyebrows about their playing XI combination. One of the most contentious issues before the title showdown is whether all-rounder Shivam Dube must be included in the XI. He was rested in the Sri Lanka match, replaced by Arshdeep Singh, who made a success of the death overs. But while skipper Suryakumar Yadav makes his calculations, there are compelling reasons why India must support Dube for the final. Down below, we dissect three key reasons why Shivam Dube must find a spot in the playing XI against Pakistan. 3 Reasons Why India Must Play Shivam Dube in Final Stick to the Strategy India have tried out Shivam Dube in their majority of big games during this tournament, and the mixture has worked well. Sure, Arshdeep Singh's late-over heroics against Sri Lanka were highlighted, but one good show must not disrupt the overall strategy. The management initially selected Dube to provide equilibrium in both batting and bowling. Although he survived just 18 deliveries during the tournament, his five wickets, particularly the match-saving spell against Pakistan in the Super 4 round, testified to his presence. Shaking up the plan now, at the brink of the final, might disturb India's flow. The near-miss against Sri Lanka must not reflect on the success of the original combination. India's unbeaten run is no coincidence, and Dube has been a part of it. Also Read | Suryakumar Yadav fined for Pahalgam comments: Reports Middle-Order Depth is Crucial While Abhishek Sharma has been the standout batter, contributing nearly 40% of India’s runs, the middle order has looked shaky. Suryakumar Yadav is struggling with form, Sanju Samson is still adapting, while Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel haven’t quite fired in the death overs. This is where Shivam Dube steps in. India cannot risk relying on their top order alone. With Dube in the middle, it provides batting depth, fire power, and a left-hander who can disrupt the plans of the rivals. His inclusion in India's XI against Pakistan will allow the top order to continue their aggressive batting without worrying much about the rest. If India goes with Arshdeep instead of Dube, they will compromise the batting core, something they cannot do in a high-stakes final against Pakistan. Pakistan has troubled India in the finals by dismantling their top order early in the past, hence, it is necessary for the Men in Blue to go ahead with Dube. Also Read | Watch: Gautam Gambhir’s Viral Words to Team India During Handshake Row Goes Viral Dube's Strength Against Pakistan's Spinners In their previous encounters, Pakistan spinners, particularly Abrar Ahmed, kept India batters silent. Except Abhishek Sharma, everyone found it difficult to score freely in the middle overs. This is where Dube's power-hitting against the spin can be a major factor. His high reach and capacity to clear boundaries make him the natural choice to destroy Abrar and other spinners. Though his statistics this tournament haven't been great, his potential is a killer weapon. The other left-handers, such as Tilak Varma and Axar Patel, have not been so persuasive. Tilak's strike rate against the spinners has not been impressive, and Axar's limited number of games does not make him the go-to man. Dube, however, has the record of troubling the spinners when in full flow. Interestingly enough, India also possess a special statistic working in their favor: they have not lost a T20I since December 2019 in matches where Shivam Dube played. Such a record cannot be overlooked. Conclusion India's run to the Asia Cup 2025 final has been extremely smooth, but the greatest challenge is yet to come against Pakistan as Salman Agha and his men will enter the game with proper plans to avoid their third consecutive defeat against India. The move to include Arshdeep Singh is compelling, but the collective balance, middle-order strength, and strategic advantage against Pakistan's spinners makes Shivam Dube the wiser option. In finals, small things determine the match, and remembering Dube might be the difference between merely playing and raising the trophy. For India, believing in their original strategy may just yield Asia Cup victory once more.