The Asia Cup 2025 is set to begin on 9 September in the UAE, and this time it will be a fast-paced T20 tournament instead of the usual ODI format. Cricket fans are already counting down the days, but there is still no official word on India’s Asia Cup players for 2025.
This has left fans with various questions – Will Shubman Gill play Asia Cup? Can Rishabh Pant make his big comeback? Will Yashasvi Jaiswal get a place in the India playing 11 for Asia Cup? And what about Jasprit Bumrah – will he lead the pace attack despite his recent injury concerns?
In this article, we bring you the latest updates and inside news on who might make it to India’s team for the Asia Cup 2025.
Shubman Gill May be Vice-Captain in Asia Cup 2025
As per the reports, Shubman Gill will be part of Asia Cup 2025 squad and is also likely to be named vice-captain. According to recent updates, Gill, who last played during the T20 World Cup in 2024, is fully set to return for the Asia Cup. He is expected to assist skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who successfully led India in the World Cup.
However, some critics are questioning what they call the “forceful inclusion” of Shubman Gill, given that India already has a winning combination. Reports suggest that the BCCI doesn’t want to take any chances and sees Gill as a valuable, experienced player for the tournament.
It should be noted that choosing the ‘Prince’ as vice-captain could be a setback for Axar Patel, who had been sharing the responsibility alongside Suryakumar Yadav in the World Cup.
India will begin its Asia Cup campaign against the UAE on September 10, followed by the much-awaited clash against Pakistan on September 14.
Read More: Double Century in Test Cricket: Shubman Gill Creates History
Rishabh Pant: Ruled Out of Asia Cup 2025
Rishabh Pant has been officially ruled out of the Asia Cup playing 11 2025 after suffering a fractured toe during the Manchester Test. Medical assessments confirmed a recovery period of at least six weeks, ruling him out of both the Asia Cup and the October Test series against the West Indies.
However, BCCI may be consider Pant for the later games as per the requirement. But it is important to see if he will be part of top 15 players who will travel to UAE for upcoming tournament.
While Pant is not a regular T20 opener, his absence will still be felt in the middle order, where his aggressive stroke play makes the match. With Pant unavailable, Sanju Samson is the most likely option to take over the wicketkeeping duties in the T20 squad, given his recent form and experience in the games.
However, Ishan Kishan could also be considered as a backup choice if selectors opt for more left-handed batting options. But Kishan is not a regular part of the Indian team, which weakens his likelihoods to be playing.
Will Yashashiv Jaiswal Play the Asia Cup
Yashasvi Jaiswal is one of the strongest contenders in Indian team. However, recent reports suggest Jaiswal will not in the Asia Cup playing 11 as BCCI likely sticking to the T20 squad from February’s England series. It is interesting to see then who will open with Sanju Samson and brings an aggressive edge to India’s top order.
Crictics suggest that the left-right combination of Jaiswal and Gill could give India the requisite starts, especially in the T20 format, where momentum in the powerplay can set the tone for the match. His recent performances in international T20s and the IPL have strengthened his case for a spot in the playing XI.
The stats and records of Yashasvi Jaiswal are very impressive when it comes to T20 matches. He has played 118 T20 matches in his career, making 3537 runs with 3 centuries and the highest score of 124. Jaiswal is continuously becoming a part of all formats in the Indian team – T20, ODI, and Test.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Inclusion is Still Suspicious
It is very unlikely that Jasprit Bumrah will play in the Asia Cup starting September 9 due to his knee injury. Although he is the main fast bowler for the Indian team, Jasprit is unavailable for the Asia Cup as there has been no approval from the BCCI so far. Additionally, the BCCI wants to keep the pacer healthy for the upcoming ICC championships, including the series against the West Indies.
The final decision on Bumrah will be made after the fitness test, closer to the tournament. If he is not picked, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh will likely lead the pace attack. Siraj has been in great form in Tests against England, while Arshdeep has shone in T20s for both India and his IPL team.
Possible Asia Cup India Players 2025: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Jitesh Sharma (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna.
