The countdown to the Asia Cup 2025 has officially begun, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announcing the 15-member squad for the highly anticipated T20 tournament. This will be the 17th edition of the Men’s Asia Cup, scheduled to be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28, 2025. Matches will be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The Indian squad sees Suryakumar Yadav named as captain, while Shubman Gill has been appointed vice-captain, ending speculation about his role. The squad also welcomes the return of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who will be crucial to India’s bowling attack. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that Bumrah’s workload will be carefully managed to keep him fit for big matches.
However, the squad announcement also sparked debate, as Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal—two of IPL 2025’s top scorers—were excluded. Despite their combined 1,163 runs in the tournament, both missed out, with Jaiswal included only as one of the five reserves. Agarkar called the decision “unfortunate” but highlighted the balance provided by other all-round options like Abhishek Sharma.
The final 15 includes experienced names like Kuldeep Yadav and Rinku Singh, along with Jitesh Sharma as the back-up wicketkeeper. The reserves list features Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
With eight teams divided into two groups, the Asia Cup promises high-intensity clashes, particularly a potential India vs Pakistan group-stage showdown. This tournament is also seen as a crucial build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup.
As India gears up under new leadership, all eyes will be on Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy and Shubman Gill’s growing influence as vice-captain.