India’s Asia Cup squad announced, Shreyas Iyer, Siraj miss out as Gill named vice captain

After continuous chatter of well over a week, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee on Tuesday announced the Indian squad for Men’s Asia Cup 2025.

The highlight of the announcement was Shubman Gill, India’s Test team captain, who is now assigned to the duties of the vice captain for the T20 team. While Shreyas Iyer, who led his IPL team to the final, was missing from the squad.

15-men India squad for Asia Cup

Surya Kumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh

Whoever is picked for the eight-team tournament will also be sure shot figures in the defending champions’ build-up to next year’s Men’s T20 World Cup, to be held in India and Sri Lanka.

With India’s opening match scheduled for September 10, the spotlight was firmly on the fate of Shreyas Iyer, Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh and Riyan Parag.

Only Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma have been announced in the squad.

With Suryakumar Yadav set to lead after making considerable progress in his rehab post hernia operation, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson were certain to retain their places after being opening batters since the home series against Bangladesh last year.

Despite enduring an inconsistent IPL season – more so due to a side strain injury and being troubled by Jofra Archer’s hard lengths and extra pace in T20Is against England this year, Samson has held on to his place in the team, especially with the Indian team management inclined to back its core set of players.

Suryakumar, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel were the batting order certainties.

On the other hand, Jitesh’s name was also a hot favourite for the reserve keeper-batter slot, who can also play finisher’s role when needed with his power-hitting skills and repertoire of ramps and scoops. Jitesh had a stellar IPL 2025 season with the bat and gloves to help Royal Challengers Bengaluru win its maiden IPL title.

With Nitish Kumar Reddy still undergoing rehab for knee ligament injury, Riyan, Sundar and Shivam Dube were shaping up as contenders for an all-rounders’ slot.

In fast bowling department, Harshit Rana was preferred over Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, along with Hardik, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh.

The Asia Cup squad is the first glimpse of India’s plans for the World Cup, and debate over inclusions and omissions is certain to continue until the main tournament gets underway.

(with inputs from syndicated feed)