The much-anticipated India Asia Cup 2025 squad is finally out as the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee announced the 15-member squad on Tuesday. Suryakumar Yadav will retain his place as the T20I skipper, while on a surprise note, Shubman Gill has been picked up as the Vice-captain. The marquee Asia event will kick off on September 9th and will run till September 28th. The tournament will be held across 2 cities in the UAE, namely Dubai and Abu Dhabi, featuring 19 matches, including the finals.

India Asia Cup 2025 Squad Analysis

There were plenty of debates going on about the selection of the India Asia Cup 2025 Squad, and the selectors took their time to pick a formidable squad for the continental event, which gets underway on September 9th at Abu Dhabi. There were a few notable inclusions and a few surprise picks in the India player list for Asia Cup 2025.

India player list for Asia Cup 2025: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Rinku Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.

Reserves: Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal

Strong Opening and Vice-Captaincy Decision

Starting from the batting, the openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson keep their places after making a strong impression in the previous bilateral series against England, South Africa, and Bangladesh, which India won all of them convincingly. The duo wasn’t the regular picks at the same time last year, as they were brought in as a cover-up when Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal were rested. But both Abhishek and Samson overshadowed the premier batters Gill and Jaiswal to make a spot their own at the top of the order. In a short period, Abhishek Sharma went on to become the No.1 T20I Batter, while Sanju Samson is currently at 34th place in the Rankings.

Gautam Gambhir & Selectors want to Groom Shubman Gill as the next Indian T20I for the future. 🇮🇳 [Devendra Pandey from Express Sports] pic.twitter.com/tR4zxFLP2e

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 19, 2025

The selectors were about to pick either Shubman Gill or Yashasvi Jaiswal as a backup opener, but they named the former as the Vice-captain of the team, which means they have to alter the combination to accommodate the Indian Test skipper in the starting eleven. Interestingly, both Gill and Jaiswal last played a T20I together against Sri Lanka in July 2024.

Related Article：Sanju Samson to Be Left Out? How the Playing XI Puzzle Just Got More Complicated

Key Middle-Order Batters and Their Rankings

Dangerous batters Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav, who have consistently altered their roles at No.3 and No.4, keep their places in the side, and might be pushed one step below the order in case Gill or Samson bats in the top 3. Interestingly, both Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav have placed themselves within the top 10 of the ICC T20I Batter Rankings.

All-Rounders and Finisher Role in UAE Conditions

Since the tournament is happening in the UAE, the role of the middle order will always be crucial, especially in multi-nation events. The competition is immense, which includes all-rounders Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Shivam Dube. All 3 players were part of the T20 World Cup squad that won the title in the Caribbean last year. Rinku Singh, who is developing as a finisher for Men in Blue, has been entrusted with the role. The Southpaw will have to fight extremely hard to find a place in the starting eleven.

Wicket-Keeper Changes Amid Injury Concerns

With Rishabh Pant out of the squad for an indefinite time, after enduring a foot fracture during the 4th Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Manchester, selectors have brought Jitesh Sharma into the mix as a back-up wicket-keeper, following his stellar performances for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025. The 31-year-old wicket-keeper batter struck 261 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 176.35.

Pace Bowling Lineup and Surprising Picks

Now the focus shifts to the bowling cordon, which features four obvious picks and one surprise element. World-class bowler Jasprit Bumrah is back in the T20I side after 14 months, since playing a pivotal role in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 against South Africa. He will lead the talented bowling attack. Left-arm quick, Arshdeep Singh, who is now the all-time leading wicket-taker for India in T20Is with 99 scalps, without any doubt, will find his name in the India Asia Cup 2025 squad.

Delhi pacer Harshit Rana, who represents Kolkata Knight Riders, has been picked up as the 3rd seamer, ahead of Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj. Rana’s inclusion has been debatable as he only played a T20I, coming in as a controversial concussion substitute for Shivam Dube in a T20I against England earlier this year.

Spin Department Strength and Key Performers

There is some talent in the spin department, which features left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who last played the format when India won the T20 World Cup title in the Caribbean last year. Another one is Varun Chakravarthy, who brings mystery variations into play.

Ever since his return to the Indian colours last year against Bangladesh, the Tamil Nadu tweaker has bagged 31 wickets in 12 matches, which includes two 5-wicket hauls against South Africa and England. For his stellar performances (14 wickets), he was named the Player of the Series against England during the 5-match T20I bilateral series earlier this year, which India won 4-1. These performances put him directly into the Champions Trophy selection.

Omission Controversies：Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer

By analysing the overall India Asia Cup Squad 2025, everyone was a little surprised over the omission of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who hasn’t done anything wrong in the format, collecting 723 runs in 23 matches at an average of 36.15 and striking at the rate of 164.31. Ahead of the busy Indian Test schedule, he wasn’t considered for selection into the T20Is over the last year, which was the major reason his name was ignored from the India player list for Asia Cup 2025.

RAVI ASHWIN ON SHREYAS IYER & YASHASVI JAISWAL & NOT PICKED FOR ASIA CUP:

– “Players like Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal are rare. These are the kind of players who don’t play for themselves, they play for the team, they look at the strike rate. But if I were Shreyas or… pic.twitter.com/oQfxqM93nn

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) August 20, 2025

Shreyas Iyer, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to the title in IPL 2024 and also guided Punjab Kings to the final in IPL 2025, was the one missed out from the selection of the India Asia Cup 2025 Squad. The selectors couldn’t find a place for him in the line-up as every spot is occupied by match winners.

Challenges in Team Selection

Even Ajit Agarkar mentioned it’s hard to drop any one of the guys who are performing exceptionally well. Selectors have picked up the best India Player list for Asia Cup 2025, and it’s now the selection headache for captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir to pick the right combination.