The BCCI is set to announce India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad on Tuesday, and a few surprises may be on the cards. With Suryakumar Yadav expected to captain, reports indicate that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel could leave out some established stars. Interestingly, this comes despite head coach Gautam Gambhir previously advocating for T20I selections to be based solely on IPL performances. Yet, it appears the selectors may overlook a few standout IPL performers while finalising the squad.
Abhishek Sharma – The young left-hander has impressed as a fearless opener and is expected to keep his spot at the top of the order.
Tilak Varma – A calm presence in the middle order, Tilak has shown maturity beyond his years and is almost certain to feature in the squad.
Suryakumar Yadav (c) – India’s T20 batting mainstay and captain, Suryakumar’s explosive strokeplay makes him the team’s biggest weapon.
Shubman Gill – Likely to return as an opener, Gill’s consistency and technique put him ahead of Yashasvi Jaiswal for the Asia Cup.
Rinku Singh – Despite some doubts over his place, the left-hander’s finishing ability should ensure his inclusion in the squad.
Sanju Samson – The first-choice wicketkeeper, Samson’s experience and recent form make him a key figure in India’s batting line-up.
Jitesh Sharma – A power-hitter and proven finisher in the IPL, Jitesh is tipped to edge past Dhruv Jurel as the backup wicketkeeper.
Hardik Pandya – India’s premier all-rounder, Hardik provides balance with his explosive batting and seam-bowling options.
Axar Patel – With his left-arm spin and handy lower-order batting, Axar is a dependable option in Indian conditions and beyond.
Kuldeep Yadav – Adds depth with his leg-spin, giving India strength in the slow UAE tracks
Shivam Dube – In red-hot form as a big-hitting all-rounder, Dube is the frontrunner for the additional pace-bowling all-rounder slot.
Jasprit Bumrah – India’s strike bowler and game-changer, Bumrah’s availability is a massive boost ahead of the Asia Cup.
Arshdeep Singh – The left-arm quick has become a dependable death-over specialist, making him a certain pick.
Mohammed Siraj – Brings aggression and experience with the new ball, and is likely to edge Prasidh Krishna for a place.
Varun Chakravarthy – The mystery spinner’s variations could be a key factor on UAE pitches, strengthening India’s bowling unit.
