Mumbai, August 19, 2025 — India has announced its highly anticipated 15-member squad for the Asia Cup 2025, set to be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28. The roster signals a blend of bold leadership, fresh energy, and strategic planning ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Key Highlights of the Squad
- Captaincy: Suryakumar Yadav, the dynamic T20 skipper, leads the squad
- Vice-Captain: Shubman Gill returns triumphantly to the T20 fold and is elevated to vice-captain
- Big Returns: Jasprit Bumrah rejoins the side, adding significant firepower to India’s pace arsenal.
Squad Composition
Here is India’s final squad for Asia Cup 2025:
- Suryakumar Yadav (C)
- Shubman Gill (VC)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Tilak Varma
- Hardik Pandya
- Shivam Dube
- Axar Patel
- Jitesh Sharma (wk)
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Arshdeep Singh
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Sanju Samson (wk)
- Harshit Rana
- Rinku Singh
Standby players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel.
Sparked Controversy
- Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal Omitted: Their exclusion sparked reaction from fans and analysts alike, generating a wave of disappointment and debate
- Allegations of Favoritism: Former cricketer Abhishek Nayar hinted at coaching bias favoring certain players, particularly those associated with coach Gautam Gambhir’s IPL camp.
- Response from Selectors: BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar defended the choices, stating that selection was based on merit and team composition needs.
What’s at Stake
The Asia Cup serves as a pivotal warm-up for the 2026 T20 World Cup. India’s mix of leadership experience, spin depth, and aggressive batting aligns with modern T20 demands. Gill’s leadership elevation and Bumrah’s return strengthen squad balance, while the inclusion of spinners like Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav highlights India’s adaptability to UAE conditions.
Summary Table
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Captain | Suryakumar Yadav |
| Vice-Captain | Shubman Gill |
| Notable inclusions | Jasprit Bumrah, fresh all-round options |
| Omissions | Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal |
| Standby players | Jaiswal, Sundar, Krishna, Parag, Jurel |
| Controversies | Allegations of favoritism, prompted strong reactions |
| Context | Precursor to T20 World Cup, Asia Cup in UAE |
Final Outlook
India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad blends experience and experimentation. As defending champions, their strategic picks reflect both performance pressure and vision. With Gill cruising back into leadership, Bumrah’s pace threat, and a surprise-laced squad mix, all eyes are on how they channel this lineup into success on UAE pitches.