Predicted India squad for Asia Cup 2025
The next edition of the Asia Cup has been confirmed to go on floors in the UAE from September 9. The ACC tournament will be played in the T20 format, serving as a prelude to the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. Team India has been placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, Oman, and the UAE. The Men in Blue will open their campaign against the UAE on September 10 before the schedule brings them face-to-face with Pakistan on September 14. While there is a lot of contention around the India vs Pakistan fixtures, the BCCI has kicked off the workings around building a formidable India squad for Asia Cup 2025.
Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer in line for a call-up to the India squad for Asia Cup 2025
India has been performing consistently well in the shorter format for quite some time now. The team's historic win at the 2024 T20 World Cup saw Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja announcing their T20I retirements. Meanwhile, India's then-new head coach handed the T20I captaincy to Suryakumar Yadav. Yadav and his team of young guns, including Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Rinku Singh, have scripted some record-breaking performances for the team.
The shorter format took a backseat as India set sail on the five-match Test series in England. However, as the focus returns, the squad is fated for a significant shake-up before the next event in the India cricket schedule. The BCCI is likely to announce the India squad for the Asia Cup 2025 by the end of August. Meanwhile, the side is reported to witness the return of some notable names to the mix. Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, sidelined from the T20I side since the Sri Lanka tour of 2024 due to busy schedules in the longer formats, are likely to earn a recall.
In fact, reports suggest that Shubman Gill is set to claim India's vice-captaincy, replacing Axar Patel in the position for the Asia Cup 2025. Moreover, further updates have detailed that the BCCI is looking at Shreyas Iyer as an all-format asset for the team, and the IPL-winning captain is ready to earn a spot in the India squad for Asia Cup 2025. Furthermore, the buzz is for Sai Sudharsan to claim a place in the side bound for the UAE. However, the new entries raise a question about the participation of Abhishek Sharma in the group.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, if he joins the squad, will likely open the Indian attack with Sanju Samson. Shubman Gill could take up the No. 3 spot with Suryakumar Yadav next in the order, followed by Shreyas Iyer. However, the setting will leave Abhishek Sharma, who opened with Samson in the recent series against Bangladesh and South Africa, out of the mix. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant, who fractured his right foot during the India vs England Test series, is all but ruled out of the Asia Cup. While Samson is set to keep the wicketkeeping spot, Jitesh Sharma will likely be called up as the backup wicketkeeper on the back of his phenomenal IPL 2025 season for RCB.
Suryakumar Yadav has been reported to be recovering well from his groin hernia surgery, well on track to lead the team at the Asia Cup. Moreover, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel are also set to return to the India squad for the marquee event. The bowling department, meanwhile, has a shadow over the participation of Jasprit Bumrah. The speedster, who played only three out of the five India vs England Tests, could play the tournament partly.
If India manages to reach the Asia Cup 2025 final, the title match will closely precede the India vs West Indies Test series. The back-to-back unrelenting action draws a question mark over Bumrah's availability for the series. The T20I attack, meanwhile, will include Arshdeep Singh along with Pandya as the main pacers. Varun Chakravarthy will lead the spin attack along with Axar Patel, with the possibility of either Ravi Bishnoi or Kuldeep Yadav getting a spot in the group.
Predicted India squad for Asia Cup 2025
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Sanju Samson (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav/Ravi Bishnoi
