India's squad for the Asia Cup 2025 is generating significant buzz, with reports suggesting Shubman Gill is likely to be included while a prominent INR 13 Crore IPL star may miss out. The team is slated to be picked on August 19 in Mumbai, with India's T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav expected to attend the selection meeting.

Gill's Potential Inclusion and Leadership Role

Shubman Gill is reportedly in contention for a leadership role in India's T20I squad for the Asia Cup 2025, which is scheduled to be held in the UAE next month. This comes after he didn't feature in India's recent T20I bilaterals against Bangladesh, South Africa, and England. Selectors are considering drafting Gill back into the T20I side, not only as a batter but also as a leader. Gill has been successful as captain in Tests and has led in the IPL, making it difficult to keep him away from the Asia Cup. Some reports suggest that Gill could be handed the vice-captaincy role, potentially replacing Axar Patel. Gill was Suryakumar Yadav's deputy in the past, during a series against Sri Lanka in 2024.

The Opening Conundrum

There's considerable discussion about Gill's batting position. He bats at No.3 in ODIs and No.4 in Tests. With Suryakumar Yadav likely holding the No.4 spot, Gill might be considered as an opener alongside Abhishek Sharma, following his strong IPL 2025 performance for Gujarat Titans. If Gill opens, Sanju Samson could take the No.3 position. However, some reports indicate that the selectors are keen on persisting with the opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, which could make it difficult for Gill to find a place in the side.

Possible Exclusion of a 13 Crore IPL Star

While the specific player hasn't been named, the report suggests that a high-value IPL player might be excluded from the squad. This could be due to the team management's plans to persist with a settled top order or focus on specific players for the T20 format.

Other Players in Contention

• Yashasvi Jaiswal: Despite a good series in England, Jaiswal may not be picked for the T20 side, with selectors reportedly advising him to focus on red-ball cricket.
• Shreyas Iyer: Iyer, who had a strong IPL 2025, might also miss out on a spot in the Asia Cup squad. He will vie with Tilak Varma for the No. 5 spot.
• Sanju Samson: Samson is likely to be the wicketkeeper. He may also open the innings with Abhishek Sharma.
• Tilak Varma: Varma is likely to be picked in the middle order.
• Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel: These two are expected to be the main all-rounders in the squad.
• Jasprit Bumrah: Bumrah is expected to spearhead the pace attack. He might play India's opener against UAE if he needs white-ball practice.
• Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana: These two are also expected to be in the squad as pacers.
• Kuldeep Yadav or Ravi Bishnoi: One of these two may be selected as the second specialist spinner.

Asia Cup 2025 Details

The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to be held in the UAE from September 9 to September 28, in the T20 format. India is placed in Group A along with Pakistan, Oman, and the UAE. India will begin their campaign against the UAE on September 10, followed by a match against Pakistan on September 14. The tournament will feature eight teams divided into two groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super Four stage. Dubai will host 11 matches, including the final, while Abu Dhabi will host the remaining eight. India enters the tournament as the defending champions and has won the Asia Cup eight times.

Strategic Importance of Asia Cup 2025

The Asia Cup 2025 is a key opportunity for India to prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup. It allows the team to experiment with new combinations and assess players under pressure.