India Squad for Asia Cup 2025:The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) officially declared India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2025 on Tuesday. The biggest talking point was the leadership change — Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed captain, while Shubman Gill, who hasn’t featured in T20Is for quite some time, makes a surprising comeback as vice-captain.
The announcement came from chief selector Ajit Agarkar, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav seated alongside him during the press conference. Interestingly, this squad seems to reflect head coach Gautam Gambhir’s recent stance that T20I selections should be based on IPL performances, rewarding players who play bold, fearless cricket. Looking at the selected names, it’s clear the team is built around attacking intent and aggressive batting, which has now become India’s new philosophy in the shortest format.
Shubman Gill In, Yashasvi Jaiswal Out — India Go for Experience and Leadership in Asia Cup 2025 Squad
In a bold selection call, the Indian selectors have included Shubman Gill in the Asia Cup 2025 squad while leaving out young star Yashasvi Jaiswal. Gill, who was recently named India’s Test captain and is ranked among the world’s top ODI batters, forces his way into the T20I setup on the back of a record-breaking Test series against England — hammering 754 runs with four centuries in just five matches.
Despite his red-hot form, Gill’s inclusion comes at a cost. With the squad restricted to 15 members, the selectors had to pick between Gill and Jaiswal — and opted for Gill, largely because he’s part of the team’s leadership group.
Interestingly, the think-tank has retained the explosive opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, whose aggressive starts have recently redefined India’s approach in T20Is. However, with Gill back in the mix, the top order will likely be reshuffled — Gill is expected to open with Abhishek, which could push Samson to No.3, followed by Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma.
The final squad reflects India’s refreshed philosophy under captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir — to play fearless, attacking T20 cricket. The exclusion of Jaiswal might raise eyebrows, but the selectors seem clear: experience, form, and intent will decide the playing XI.
Middle Order Mix: Power, Depth & Backup Options
India have gone with a strong, flexible middle order for the Asia Cup 2025, with Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, and Jitesh Sharma providing both hitting power and depth. While there was uncertainty around Dube’s place earlier, he has been backed by the selectors — mainly due to his all-round abilities, which make him a natural backup for Hardik Pandya, India’s premier seam-bowling all-rounder.
Interestingly, despite consistent performances over the past year, Shreyas Iyer misses out, signalling the shift towards a more explosive middle-order approach. Rinku Singh retains his finisher’s role even after a quiet IPL season — a testament to the faith shown in him after his international heroics. Jitesh Sharma, meanwhile, returns as the reserve wicketkeeper-batter, highlighting India’s strong bench strength behind first-choice gloveman Sanju Samson.
Bowling Gets a Boost with Bumrah Return
On the bowling front, the big news is the return of Jasprit Bumrah, who will spearhead the attack. His presence adds teeth to a relatively inexperienced pace unit. However, with a packed calendar ahead — including a tour of the West Indies — his workload management will be crucial.
Among the other pace bowling contenders, Harshit Rana has edged out Prasidh Krishna for a squad spot, joining Arshdeep Singh as part of India’s fast-bowling pack.
India Squad for Asia Cup 2025
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh
Also Read –ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 India Squad – Key Picks, In-Form Players & Notable Exclusions
