India confirm strong squad for Asia Cup T20, tournament begins September 9 in UAE
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced Team India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup T20 2025, scheduled to begin on September 9 in the UAE. Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar revealed the team on Tuesday afternoon, confirming Suryakumar Yadav as captain and Shubman Gill as vice-captain.
India, the original host, was set to stage the tournament at home. However, following Pakistan’s refusal to play in India, the Asia Cup has been shifted to the United Arab Emirates. India will kick off their campaign on September 10 against the UAE.
Key Highlights of India’s Asia Cup Squad
The selection committee made several notable decisions while finalizing the 15-member squad. Here are the major takeaways:
Shubman Gill named vice-captain
Shubman Gill, currently leading India’s Test team, has been handed the responsibility of vice-captaincy for the Asia Cup. Interestingly, Gill was not part of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad despite scoring 650 runs in the IPL. His elevation highlights the selectors’ long-term vision for grooming leadership options.
Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar miss out
Young talents Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, and pacer Harshit Rana earned call-ups to the squad. However, senior pacer Mohammed Siraj and all-rounder Washington Sundar failed to make the main team. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sundar have been placed in the reserves list.
Jasprit Bumrah returns to T20s
Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah makes his much-awaited return to T20 internationals after last featuring in the T20 World Cup 2024 final. Despite a strong IPL season with Punjab Kings, Shreyas Iyer could not secure a spot in the squad.
India vs Pakistan: A Possible Triple Clash in Asia Cup 2025
Cricket fans across the subcontinent may witness up to three high-voltage India-Pakistan encounters during the tournament.
- First Match: The group-stage clash is scheduled for September 14 at Dubai International Stadium.
- Second Match: If both teams advance to the Super Four stage, they are likely to meet again on September 21.
- Third Match: Should India and Pakistan qualify for the final, the third showdown will take place on September 28.
With political tensions and recent attacks adding to the backdrop, the India-Pakistan rivalry in this Asia Cup promises to be one of the tournament’s biggest storylines.
Group Stage Format and India’s Fixtures
India has been placed in Group A, alongside Pakistan, UAE, and Oman. Group B consists of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.
Each team will play against every other side in its group once. India’s fixtures are as follows:
- September 10: India vs UAE
- September 14: India vs Pakistan
- September 19: India vs Oman
The top two teams from each group will move forward to the Super Four stage, which will decide the finalists.
India’s Record in the Asia Cup
The Asia Cup, first played in 1984, has been contested 16 times so far. India holds the record for the most Asia Cup titles with 8 wins. Sri Lanka follows closely with 6 championships, while Pakistan has lifted the trophy twice.
India will be aiming to extend their dominance with a ninth title, particularly under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, who has shown consistency and aggression in the T20 format.
Political Backdrop: Opposition to India-Pakistan Clash
The announcement of potential India-Pakistan matches has stirred debates, especially after the terror attack in Pahalgam. Several voices have opposed India’s participation against Pakistan in cricket.
In fact, Pakistan had earlier withdrawn from the Hockey Asia Cup hosted in Rajgir, Bihar, citing political reasons. The matter even reached Parliament, where questions were raised about bilateral sports ties. Notably, Indian cricketers also refused to face Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) earlier this year.
This political tension adds another layer of drama to the Asia Cup, making the India-Pakistan clash more than just a cricketing battle.
Women’s Cricket: India Announce Squad for ODI World Cup
Alongside the men’s squad, the Indian women’s team for the upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup was also revealed. The tournament begins on September 30 in India, with India playing their opening match against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru.
The squad, selected under the leadership of former cricketer Neetu David, will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur, with Smriti Mandhana as vice-captain.
India Women’s Squad for ODI World Cup:
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kranti Goud, Sayali Satghare, Radha Yadav, Sri Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Sneh Rana.
Outlook
The Asia Cup 2025 not only offers a platform for Asian teams to prove their mettle ahead of the global T20 season but also reignites the most electrifying rivalry in cricket—India vs Pakistan. With Suryakumar Yadav at the helm, Shubman Gill stepping up as deputy, and Jasprit Bumrah making his return, India will be eager to assert dominance and reclaim the continental crown.
Cricket fans worldwide will have their eyes glued to the UAE from September 9 to 28, as Asia’s cricketing giants battle it out for supremacy.
