Shubman Gill dropped from India squad for Asia Cup 2025? BCCI source reveals the reason

A fresh report in India’s lead-up to the Asia Cup has changed the script for Shubman Gill. India's Test captain was poised to earn a T20I return for the marquee event after wrapping up the India vs England Test series. The initial updates suggested that Gill would head to the UAE as the vice-captain of the India squad for Asia Cup 2025. However, now that the selection proceedings near the final stage, the young batsman has reportedly fallen out of contention.

The BCCI unlikely to pick Shubman Gill as a backup option in India squad for Asia Cup 2025

The BCCI selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, is likely looking to avoid toying with India's T20I squad. After India lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav came up to hold the reins of the team in the shorter format. Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson earned entries into the combination while Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal exited to focus on the longer formats. As Gill and Jaiswal completed their Test and ODI assignments in the India cricket schedule, Abhishek and Sanju quickly carved their spots in the T20I combination.

Now, as Asia Cup 2025 approaches, the board is unlikely to snatch the spots from either of the openers. Initial reports suggested that the BCCI aimed at taking Shubman Gill to the UAE as the vice-captain. Gill's selection could have been a significant step in the board's plan to prepare the youngster as India's next all-format captain. However, dashing the earlier updates, the selection committee is now mulling leaving Gill behind.

Meanwhile, a BCCI source has revealed the reason behind Gill's snub for Asia Cup 2025. BCCI's formal meeting to finalise the India squad for the Asia Cup is scheduled on 19 August. However, in the lead-up to the ultimate decider, the board has discussed many ways to fit Gill into the combination. Gill's inclusion could have come at the cost of Tilak Varma, who bats at No. 3 for India in the format.

The youngster, who impressed with consecutive tons on the South Africa tour, is currently ranked second in ICC's T20I batting list, just behind Abhishek Sharma. The Mumbai batter has amassed 413 runs in 9 innings at a strike rate of 170.66, emerging as India's third-highest run-scorer in the format since the 2024 T20 World Cup.

While Tilak endured a dismal run in IPL 2025, his international performances for India in the recent cycle are likely to carry the young batter to the UAE. The move to accommodate Gill could prove unfair to Tilak, thus pushing the board away from the idea. Meanwhile, with the BCCI unlikely to snub Tilak, the selection committee is against taking the Indian Test captain just as a backup option for the Asia Cup.

“If Gill is included then he will straight away bat at the top, and if he doesn’t get a game then there is no point in having him. At the same time, it will be unfair on Sanju, who has done well. If Gill gets in then Sanju might have to miss out and Jitesh might get a game,” a BCCI source said.

The report further suggests that Yashasvi Jaiswal, while counted out of contention as of now, could eclipse Gill in the race to claim the backup spot. The Mumbai batter could be on the flight to the UAE for the Asia Cup as a backup opener in the India squad. However, Gill, eyed as the next all-format captain of India, does not fit BCCI's bill in a limited role solely as a backup batting option.

The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to take off on September 9 in the UAE. India has been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Oman, and the UAE. The Men in Blue will kickstart their campaign against the UAE on September 10. Meanwhile, the highly contentious India vs Pakistan group-stage clash is slated for a showdown on September 14 in Dubai. If the arch-rivals manage to soar past the group stage, India and Pakistan will meet again in the Super Four before the equation comes down to the Asia Cup final on September 28.