The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially named the 15-member squad for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from September 9 to 28. Suryakumar Yadav will captain the team, while Shubman Gill has been appointed as vice-captain.
The squad combines experienced players with emerging talent, aimed at creating a balanced and versatile team for the tournament. Jasprit Bumrah returns to lead the pace attack, while left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav strengthens India’s spin options. All-rounders Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel provide flexibility in both batting and bowling, allowing the team to adapt to various match situations.
The complete squad is: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, and Rinku Singh.
Notable omissions include middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. While Jaiswal has been named as a standby player, other reserve players include Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel. These decisions have prompted discussions among cricket fans and experts regarding team composition and the balance between experienced campaigners and promising youngsters.
Suryakumar Yadav’s elevation to captaincy reflects the selectors’ confidence in his leadership skills and consistent performance in the T20 format. Shubman Gill, returning after a break, is expected to stabilize India’s batting at the top of the order and mentor younger players in the squad.
The team’s composition emphasizes adaptability, with a mix of experienced players and rising stars capable of performing in diverse conditions in the UAE. The combination of power hitters and all-rounders is expected to provide the team with multiple strategies, while the bowling attack led by Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav is tasked with controlling opposition scoring.
Preparations will begin in the UAE ahead of the tournament, focusing on adjusting to local pitch conditions and refining strategies for each match. Experts believe that if the team maintains consistency and balance, India has strong prospects in the Asia Cup.
The Asia Cup 2025 is set to begin on September 9, and cricket fans will closely watch how India’s new leadership and squad selections perform as the tournament unfolds.