India pick Suryakumar-led, Bumrah-boosted squad for Asia Cup 2025
India unveils star-studded squad for Asia Cup 2025
India have named a dynamic 15-member group – led by Suryakumar Yadav with Shubman Gill as his new deputy – for next month’s T20 Asia Cup in the UAE. The selection panel, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, has blended IPL 2025 form with proven international pedigree as the Men in Blue chase a record-extending ninth continental crown.
Headline takeaways
Suryakumar continues at the helm after steering India to last year’s T20 World Cup triumph.
Shubman Gill promoted to vice-captain, signalling a succession plan in white-ball cricket.
Jasprit Bumrah returns to T20Is after a year of red-ball focus, bolstering the pace attack.
Rinku Singh and Harshit Rana rewarded for impactful IPL seasons, while Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal miss the cut but feature among five stand-bys.
Full 15-man squad
Role | Player |
|---|---|
Captain | Suryakumar Yadav |
Vice-captain | Shubman Gill |
Wicketkeepers | Jitesh Sharma, Sanju Samson |
Specialist batters | Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh |
All-rounders | Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel |
Spinners | Kuldeep Yadav (wrist), Varun Chakaravarthy (mystery) |
Pacers | Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana |
Stand-by list: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel.
Selection logic
IPL 2025 form front and centre
Selectors leaned heavily on recent franchise numbers:
Suryakumar amassed 717 runs at 167.9 SR, the tournament’s second-highest tally.
Rinku finished with a 191 SR in death overs, underscoring India’s need for a finisher.
Rookie quick Harshit Rana impressed with 22 wickets at 7.9 economy, squeezing out senior options.
Experience where it counts
Bumrah’s comeback provides cutting edge and leadership for a relatively young attack.
Hardik Pandya returns fully fit after ankle surgery, slotting into the finisher-all-rounder slot he made his own in 2022.
Spin duties are split: Kuldeep offers traditional wrist-spin control, while Chakaravarthy brings mystery to UAE pitches that historically reward variation.
Key fixtures and stakes
India open against hosts UAE on 10 September in Dubai before the marquee clash with Pakistan on 14 September in Abu Dhabi. The tournament, back in the T20 format for the first time since 2022, doubles as vital prep for the ICC Champions Trophy later this year. India are defending champions and eight-time winners, most recently lifting the Asia Cup in 2023.
Talking points
Gill’s elevation: at 26, the prodigious opener is being groomed for bigger leadership roles.
Middle-order muscle: the trio of Tilak, Shivam Dube and Rinku promises relentless boundary-hitting between overs 7-20.
Selection snubs: prolific IPL run-scorers Shreyas Iyer (604 runs) and Jaiswal (559 runs) remain on standby, signalling India’s embarrassment of batting riches.
Bowling balance: three frontline quicks are backed by Pandya and Dube’s medium pace, while Axar doubles as a power-play spin option.
With power hitters, versatile all-rounders and a rejuvenated pace spearhead, India head to the Gulf confident of extending their Asian dominance.