India squad for Asia Cup 2025 comes under fire for 'backwards' selection calls
It almost seems like an impossible task to announce an India squad that doesn’t fall under scrutiny. Why was this one player snubbed? How did another make the cut? Claims of bias in squad selection against the BCCI are nothing new. The noise following the announcement of a squad for any tournament nowadays tends to follow a similar template of criticism. The India squad for the Asia Cup 2025, announced on Tuesday, September 19, was no different. The appointment of Shubman Gill as India’s T20 vice-captain, coupled with the omissions of Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal, irked both fans and the cricketing fraternity. Among those questioning Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar over the decision is former Indian cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth.
Kris Srikkanth rips apart the selection calls behind India squad for Asia Cup 2025
The former Indian cricketer is known for his bold and ruthless demeanour. As the India squad for the Asia Cup 2025 was announced on Tuesday, Srikkanth’s trademark critical nature was once again on display. The selection panel, headed by Ajit Agarkar, made some bold decisions while finalising the squad for the ACC tournament. Shubman Gill, set to play his first T20I of the year at the Asia Cup, was not only recalled but also entrusted with the vice-captaincy.
Moreover, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was phased out of the shorter format along with Gill, did not get a similar recall. Both Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer, despite impressing in IPL 2025, missed out on a place in the squad for the Asia Cup. The former Indian cricketer, meanwhile, labeled this T20I squad as 'incapable' of winning the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. The Asia Cup 2025 will be played in the T20 format, serving as a prelude to next year’s World Cup.
Srikkanth argued that while this team can pass the challenge lined-up immediately next in the India cricket schedule, it doesn't seem fit for the longer run. The former batsman did not hold back in his criticism, taking aim at several selections made for the UAE-bound team. He noted that while India will enter next year’s T20 World Cup as defending champions, the bench strength revealed gaps that could prove costly.
“We might win the Asia Cup with this team, but there is no chance of winning the T20 World Cup with this bunch,” said Srikkanth. “Are you going to take this team to the World Cup? Is this the preparation for the T20 World Cup, which is hardly six months away?”
Srikkanth's criticism wasn’t limited to the overall balance of the squad but extended to the leadership decisions as well. The veteran argued that naming Axar Patel as vice-captain in one series, only to strip him of the role soon after, reflected inconsistency and a lack of clarity in planning for the future. Patel served as the deputy to Suryakumar Yadav in the home series against England. However, the return of Shubman Gill meant that the all-rounder had to give up his vice-captaincy spot to the youngster.
“They have gone backwards. Axar Patel has been axed from vice-captaincy. I don’t know how Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube and Harshit Rana have come in,” said Srikkanth.
The former opener also questioned the rationale behind picking players who had underwhelming IPL campaigns. Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, and Nitish Rana were all retained despite quiet seasons, which Srikkanth found puzzling. In contrast, the omission of Shreyas Iyer, who enjoyed a stellar season both as batter and captain of Punjab Kings, stood out as the biggest talking point among fans. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s exclusion added to the discontent, with selectors seemingly opting to stick with established internationals rather than shake up the squad ahead of the Asia Cup.
“IPL is considered the main criteria for selection, but the selectors seem to have considered performances before that,” he said.
