The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a dynamic 15-member squad for the Asia Cup T20 2025, set to be held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from September 10 to 28. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the side, while Shubman Gill has been appointed vice-captain, signaling a shift in leadership strategy.
Leadership Shake-Up
Gill’s elevation comes after his stint as deputy during India’s full-strength series against Sri Lanka last year. With captain Surya and chief selector Ajit Agarkar backing Gill’s leadership credentials, the move may impact the wicketkeeping hierarchy—Sanju Samson could lose his spot, while Jitesh Sharma is expected to reclaim his place after a stellar IPL season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Big Names Left Out
The selection committee made bold calls:
- Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal were dropped despite recent form.
- Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi were snubbed.
- Standby players include: Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Full Squad Breakdown
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Captain | Suryakumar Yadav |
| Vice-Captain | Shubman Gill |
| Batters | Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh |
| All-Rounders | Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel |
| Wicketkeepers | Jitesh Sharma, Sanju Samson |
| Pacers | Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana |
| Spinners | Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy |
Match Schedule
India is placed in Group A alongside UAE, Pakistan, and Oman:
- 🇦🇪 vs India – September 10, Dubai
- 🇵🇰 vs India – September 14, Dubai
- 🇴🇲 vs India – September 19, Abu Dhabi
- Final – September 28
Selection Strategy
This marks India’s first T20I outing since the England series earlier this year. With the Bangladesh tour postponed, selectors leaned heavily on IPL 2025 performances, rewarding form and fitness. The squad features a balanced mix of youth, experience, and tactical depth across departments.
“We’ve backed players who’ve shown consistency and adaptability. Gill’s leadership in Tests and IPL made him the natural choice,” said Ajit Agarkar during the announcement.
