Shubman Gill Named Vice-Captain as India Announce Asia Cup 2025
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday announced India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the side, while Shubman Gill makes a strong comeback to T20Is as the vice-captain.
The squad features a mix of youth and experience with Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah forming the core, while youngsters like Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Harshit Rana have been rewarded for consistent performances. Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma will share wicketkeeping duties, and Rinku Singh has been retained as a finisher.
The announcement, however, has stirred controversy with the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Iyer, who recently impressed in international and franchise cricket, finds no place in the main squad or reserves. Jaiswal, despite his explosive talent as an opener, has been pushed to the standby list. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar admitted the decisions were “tough calls” and pointed to squad balance and all-round options as the reason behind their omissions.
Critics and fans have questioned the inclusion of players like Rinku Singh and Harshit Rana, with some hinting at favoritism due to head coach Gautam Gambhir’s KKR links. Former cricketer Abhishek Nayar even suggested Iyer “isn’t as favoured” as others.
With the Asia Cup serving as a key build-up to next year’s T20 World Cup, India’s squad will be under close scrutiny. While the team looks balanced on paper, the absence of proven performers like Iyer and Jaiswal could become a decisive talking point once the tournament begins.
