India Gears Up for Asia Cup 2025 with Probable Squad Selection

Preparations are underway for India’s participation in the Asia Cup 2025, with potential team members being considered. The T20 tournament, hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), serves as crucial preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

Key Players and Considerations
  • Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah may be rested as part of workload management.
  • Shreyas Iyer is expected to return to the squad, following a successful IPL season.
  • Rishabh Pant’s inclusion remains uncertain due to injury.
  • Suryakumar Yadav’s recovery might lead to Hardik Pandya assuming the captaincy.

Harshit Rana, a promising fast bowler, is in contention for his debut. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy are likely to be the primary spinners.

Batting Lineup

The batting lineup looks solid with the potential inclusion of KL Rahul, Tilak Varma, and Sanju Samson. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Sai Sudharsan are also being evaluated.

Jaiswal and Gill, who were absent from India’s recent T20 series due to scheduling conflicts, are anticipated to return after a month-long break following the Test series against England. Sudharsan, who won the Orange Cap in IPL 2025 with 759 runs at a strike rate of 156, is also under consideration. Jaiswal scored 559 runs at a strike rate of 160, and Gill amassed 650 runs in 15 matches with a strike rate above 155.

Selection Strategy

A source within the BCCI mentioned that selectors are carefully evaluating all possibilities, keeping in mind the 17-member squad limitation and the players’ workloads.

BCCI Official’s Statement

“With a five-week break, Jaiswal, Gill, and Sudharsan should be automatic choices for any T20 team. The Asia Cup’s 21-day timeframe means that even if a team reaches the final, they will only participate in six games. This is manageable in terms of workload, but selectors will consider all factors, including the 17-member squad limit.”

The official squad announcement is expected in the third week of August.

Asia Cup 2025 Schedule

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has announced that the Men’s Asia Cup 2025 will commence on September 9, with Afghanistan facing Hong Kong in the opening match.

  • India is placed in Group A with Pakistan, UAE, and Oman.
  • Group B consists of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.
  • India will play Pakistan on September 14, following Pakistan’s match against Oman on September 12.
  • Pakistan will conclude their group matches against UAE on September 17.

The top two teams from the Super Four stage will compete in the final on September 28.