Asia Cup 2025: Shubman Gill’s Return on Cards, Squad Reveal Delayed

Asia Cup 2025 India Squad Announcement Live Updates: Gill’s Comeback Likely, Presser Delayed

Team India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 in UAE will be revealed today. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and skipper Suryakumar Yadav were scheduled to hold a press conference at 1:30 PM in Mumbai, but bad weather in the city may delay the announcement.

The biggest talking point is whether Shubman Gill will make a comeback – and possibly return as T20 captain. Gill impressed while leading India in the Test series against England, sparking a fresh debate about leadership.

Players in contention

Among the names being closely watched are Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, and rising star Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had a breakout IPL 2025 season and finished with the Orange Cap.

In the bowling department, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and Ravi Bishnoi are all strong contenders, while veteran Yuzvendra Chahal remains uncertain.

Captaincy dilemma

The selectors face a tough call between Gill and Suryakumar Yadav.

• Under SKY’s leadership, India has won 17 of their last 20 T20Is – without Gill or Jaiswal in the lineup.
• On the other hand, Gill’s aggressive style and recent performances point to him as the future of Indian cricket.

A Gill comeback would almost certainly mean a reshuffle in the playing XI.

Big names miss out

India’s talent pool is overflowing – so much so that players like Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, and Rishabh Pant have reportedly been left out of the Asia Cup squad. These are stars who could easily walk into any T20 side in the world, yet India’s bench strength has pushed them aside this time.

Agarkar on India’s Asia Cup 2025 Squad

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar shared key insights on the Asia Cup squad and India’s roadmap to the T20 World Cup:

• On preparation:
  This is the first big tournament after the T20 World Cup. We’ve played a few bilateral series, but the Asia Cup gives us a chance to test ourselves. By now we have a good idea of our core 16-18 players, and the goal is to get them in the best shape ahead of the World Cup.
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• On Shubman Gill & Sanju Samson:
  “We’ll decide on the best team balance once we’re in Dubai. Shubman has been in terrific form over the past few months, and so has Sanju. Both are strong options, along with Abhishek Sharma.”

• On Yashasvi Jaiswal’s exclusion:
  “It’s unfortunate for Jaiswal, but Abhishek’s consistency, plus his ability to bowl, gives the team flexibility. One of them had to miss out, and for now Yashasvi will have to wait for his chance.”

• On Shreyas Iyer’s omission:
  “Again, no fault of Shreyas. It’s just that we can only pick 15. He’s a quality player, but at this point he’ll have to wait for an opportunity.”

Ashwin Backs Iyer

Veteran spinner R. Ashwin voiced his support for Shreyas Iyer’s inclusion:
“The team almost picks itself, but if there’s a surprise, I believe Shreyas Iyer deserves to be there. If he plays, he should bat at No. 3. In the IPL, he was unstoppable at that position against both spinners and fast bowlers.”

⚡ So, the message is clear: India’s talent pool is overflowing, and tough calls have been made. While Gill, Samson, and Abhishek are in the mix, stars like Jaiswal and Iyer must wait their turn.

India Asia Cup 2025 Squad Updates: 15-Member Team Confirmed

With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 just six months away, most teams are focusing on trimming down to a 15-member squad. For the Asia Cup 2025, however, the Asian Cricket Council had given permission for 17-member squads.

There was speculation that India might use this chance to test more players. But as per reports from Devendra Pandey, the selectors have decided to stick with a 15-player squad. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav want to keep things sharp and competitive rather than spreading the net wider.

India’s Asia Cup 2025 Schedule (UAE)

• Sept 10: vs UAE, Dubai
• Sept 14: vs Pakistan, Dubai
• Sept 19: vs Oman, Abu Dhabi

Build-Up to the T20 World Cup

The Asia Cup is just the start of India’s busy calendar. Before the T20 World Cup 2026 in the subcontinent, India will play 15 T20 internationals across three big series:

• India tour of Australia – 5 T20Is (Oct–Nov 2025)
• India vs South Africa – 5 T20Is (Dec 2025)
• India vs New Zealand – 5 T20Is (Jan 2026)

These matches will be crucial in finalising the squad and getting the core group into top form for the world title defence.