It might be considered unfair for Sanju Samson, but since Shubman Gill has been included in the squad as the vice-captain, it seems inevitable that the Kerala star will have to be dropped. Gill is part of the leadership group, and his best position is an opener, which is where he’ll likely bat. (Picture Credit: AFP)
Abhishek Sharma will be the second opener. The left-hander is the ICC’s top-ranked men’s T20I batter, will offer an extra bowling option, and facilitate the left-hand right-hand combination at the top of the order.
(Picture Credit: Sportzpics)
Tilak Varma has cemented himself at number three in the past couple of years. Though he didn’t have a particularly great IPL 2025, he has shown he understands the tempo of the innings at that spot and has already played some clutch match-winning innings there. (Picture Credit: AP)
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav would be the spine of this team at number four. He’s arguably the team’s best batter and would add immense value as the bridge between the top and the lower orders. (Picture Credit: PTI)
The 2024 T20 World Cup established Axar Patel as India’s number five. In 71 T20Is for he has scored 535 runs and taken 71 wickets. (Picture Credit: AP)
Hardik Pandya will have the big responsibility of finishing a few games and also contributing as an extra pacer in the 2025 Asia Cup. The senior all-rounder has scored 1812 runs and picked up 94 wickets in 114 T20Is. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)
Jitesh Sharma has played only nine T20Is for India but will be the first-choice wicketkeeper if Samson is left out for Gill. He’ll hope to eke out his IPL 2025 form as a finisher — 261 runs at a strike rate of 176.35. That would mean, unfortunately, that there won’t be any space for (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)
Kuldeep Yadav is India’s lead spinner and x-factor for the 2025 Asia Cup. Having played no internationals since the IPL, he’ll be eager to put up a few match-winning performances. (Picture Credit: AFP)
Arshdeep Singh is India’s highest-ever wicket-taker in T20Is. The left-arm quick was pivotal to their 2024 T20 World Cup win with his ability to dominate the powerplay and death overs alike. (Picture Credit: PTI)
Jasprit Bumrah will lead India’s attack in the tournament. When fit, he’s inarguably the best bowler in the team, if not the best pacer in the world, and India’s title charge will rest a fair bit on him. (Picture Credit: PTI)
Once the man who replaced Kuldeep Yadav at KKR, Varun Chakaravarthy is the perfect wheel-greaser for the left-arm wrist spinner. The mixed tweaker has been one of the most consistent in the last few years at the IPL and would be a daunting prospect to face on the UAE’s turning tracks. (Picture Credit: AFP Photo)
