MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member squad for the Asia Cup 2025 on Tuesday, August 19, with Suryakumar Yadav leading the team and Shubman Gill appointed as vice-captain. The selection meeting, held at BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, was followed by a press conference delayed by heavy rainfall, attended by chief selector Ajit Agarkar and captain Suryakumar Yadav.
The squad includes top-order batters Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Tilak Varma, alongside all-rounders Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel. Wicketkeepers Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson were selected, while pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana bolster the bowling attack. Spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy also made the cut, with Rinku Singh rounding out the lineup. Notably, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, and Prasidh Krishna were named as standby players.
The inclusion of Gill, who has not played a T20I since July 2024, sparked significant debate due to his stellar IPL 2025 performance and Test form against England, where he scored 754 runs. Despite concerns about fitting him into a settled T20 lineup, Agarkar emphasized Gill’s leadership qualities and recent success. “We see leadership qualities in Gill. He exceeded expectations in England,” Agarkar told reporters. However, Jaiswal’s exclusion was described as unfortunate, with Agarkar noting Abhishek Sharma’s all-round utility as a deciding factor.
The selection process faced challenges due to Mumbai’s adverse weather, delaying the press conference initially set for 1:30 PM IST. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and selectors, including Shiv Sundar Das and Ajay Ratra, navigated logistical hurdles to finalize the squad. The Asia Cup, set for September 9-28 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, will see India compete in Group A alongside Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, starting their campaign against UAE on September 10.
Harbhajan Singh praised Gill’s adaptability, highlighting his ability to anchor innings, while Aakash Chopra and Abhishek Nayar debated the merits of including Shreyas Iyer, who led Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final.