India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, set to be announced on August 19 (Tuesday), may not feature two big names—Test captain Shubman Gill and star pacer Mohammed Siraj—according to a report by Cricbuzz.
While both players have performed exceptionally in recent months, selection dynamics and team balance appear to be influencing the final call for the T20I tournament, which will be held from September 9 to 28.
Shubman Gill’s Stellar Form May Not Guarantee Selection
Shubman Gill has had a memorable year. He was brilliant in IPL 2025, scoring 650 runs at an average of 50 and an impressive strike rate of 155.88, leading Gujarat Titans (GT) to the playoffs. He then excelled in his maiden assignment as Test captain, leading India to a 2-2 draw in a tough away series in England. Personally, he was in dream form, amassing 754 runs at an average of 75.40.
Given this form, many expected Gill to break into India’s T20I plans. Some reports even suggested that the 25-year-old could become the vice-captain of the T20I side under Suryakumar Yadav. However, his inclusion is now uncertain.
India already have Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma—two in-form openers who have delivered consistently since the last T20 World Cup. With only one more opener slot likely up for grabs, Yashasvi Jaiswal seems to be leading the race.
“There is always room for a third opener, and Gill’s name is certain to come up for discussion, but Yashasvi Jaiswal is a strong contender for the role,” reported Cricbuzz. “One of them is expected to be picked for the September 9-28 championship, with Jaiswal appearing to have the edge.”
There have also been internal discussions about dropping Tilak Varma to fit Gill into the middle order, as per Indian Express. However, Tilak’s current No. 2 ranking in the ICC T20I batting charts makes it hard to justify his exclusion.
Mohammed Siraj Faces T20I Omission Despite Test Success
Pacer Mohammed Siraj, who finished as the leading wicket-taker in the England Test series, also seems to be on the fringes of selection. Siraj hasn’t featured in a T20I since July 2024, and the selectors may prefer bowlers who’ve been more active in the shortest format.
With Jasprit Bumrah set to return and Arshdeep Singh a sure pick, the competition for pace slots is tight. The final place may go to either Prasidh Krishna or Harshit Rana, both of whom have impressed in domestic and IPL circuits.
India’s spin department looks settled with Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, and Axar Patel in the fray. There’s also talk that Washington Sundar could make a comeback, thanks to the confidence shown in him by new head coach Gautam Gambhir.
India’s Probable Asia Cup T20I Squad (Key Names)
- Top Order: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal/Shubman Gill
- Middle Order: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma
- All-rounders: Axar Patel, Washington Sundar (probable)
- Fast Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna/Harshit Rana
- Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy
India are placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, and will kick off their Asia Cup 2025 campaign on September 10 against the UAE. Group B includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.
With multiple in-form options across all departments, the final squad announcement will be closely watched as India look to balance current form, experience, and long-term planning.
