The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel will meet in Mumbai on Tuesday, August 19, to pick the squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 event, set to begin on September 09. Probably, the selection panel will encounter its biggest headache yet in choosing the squad, as all the players are available to be selected for the Continental Cup, set to be played in T20 format. While a few names like Test skipper Shubman Gill, pacer Mohammed Siraj, & opener Yashasvi Jaiswal are a no-brainier picks, considering the rich vein of form the trio were in the five-match Test series against England, the selectors might not pick two of these players.
Gill & Siraj are unlikely to feature in the Asia Cup squad, despite being the highest run-scorer and wicket-taker, respectively, during the England series. However, the selectors' explanation is that those runs were scored in the red-ball format, & the Continental Cup will be played in a T20 format. However, India's Test skipper also showcased exemplary form in the IPL 2025 season, scoring 650 runs. But those runs came as an opener, & the selectors do not want to tinker with the current T20I opening combination of Abhishek Sharma & Sanju Samson.
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However, there is scope for a third opener, and the selectors might pick Jaiswal for that role. The southpaw scored more than 500 runs in the IPL 2025 season, with a strike rate of above 160. While there is no guarantee that opener & Shubman Gill will be selected, unless head coach Gautam Gambhir decides to convince the selectors to include the duo.
Mohammed Siraj might miss the bus for the Asia Cup
Speaking about Mohammed Siraj, the pacer, who took 23 wickets in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, might be snubbed, as Jasprit Bumrah, India's premier pacer, will be entrusted with leading the pace attack. Other pacers apart from him to be included are Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana. Hardik Pandya is the other seam bowling all-rounder to be picked in the Asia Cup squad. Mohammed Shami is likely to be snubbed for the tournament.
Speaking about the batters in the squad, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, & Shivam Dube are set to be picked. All-rounder Washington Sundar and Jitesh Sharma (Second keeper-batter) are also in the fray to be picked. Shreyas iyer, who led IPL team PBKS for finals, may not be picked in the Continental Cup.
Kuldeep Yadav set to lead spin attack for Asia Cup
Speaking about slow bowlers, Kuldeep Yadav is set to lead the attack, which will likely include Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, and Sundar in the squad. The spinners are set to play a key role in the Asia Cup as the pitches in the UAE are set to be slow.
