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Harbhajan Singh doesn’t include Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh and Tilak Varma in his 2025 Asia Cup squad.
Harbhajan Singh doesn’t include Sanju Samson in his preferred Asia Cup squad.
(PTI)
Two-time World Cup champion Harbhajan Singh’s preferred Indian squad for the 2025 Asia Cup doesn’t include regulars like Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, and Tilak Varma. He wants Suryakumar Yadav to continue as captain and include players like Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who didn’t play any T20Is for India in 2025 due to a combination of their requirement in other formats and the pecking order.
With Samson not there, he wants one of KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant in the team as the wicketkeeper. His bowling options included three seamers, including another fringe player like Mohammed Siraj, ahead of Harshit Rana and Mohammed Shami, who played against England in India’s last T20I series. Singh also picked three spin all-rounders, including Riyan Parag, alongside one specialist tweaker in Kuldeep Yadav.
“KL Rahul is a name that I didn’t take,” he said in an interview with The Times of India. “He can also be a very, very good option since I am not putting any other keeper. KL can be another option. One of him or Rishabh Pant should be there”.
Harbhajan Singh’s Asia Cup squad for India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul/Rishabh Pant Riyan Parag, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh.
Shubman Gill gets Harbhajan Singh’s backing
A big debate ahead of the squad announcement, likely scheduled for August 19, is if India will include newly minted Test captain Shubman Gill in the side. Gill was the second-highest run-scorer in IPL 2025 but Abhishek and Samson had established themselves as the openers, with Tilak Varma at three.
Harbhajan has backed his state-mate to come good and quash worries about his strike-rate.
“I think he can play the format well and dominate as well. We used to watch fours and sixes, but it is not necessary that in 20 overs, one needs to hit only fours and sixes. We also need someone who can play the big innings,” the former India off-spinner said.
India’s Asia Cup campaign will begin against the UAE on September 10.
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