India Unveils Asia Cup 2025 Squad: Surya Kumar Leads, Iyer and Jaiswal Left Out Amid Controversy

Mumbai / UAE —

India’s 15-member squad for the Asia Cup 2025, set to be held from September 9 to 28 in the UAE, was unveiled today by the BCCI, sparking both excitement and debate among fans and experts alike.

Leadership and Key Picks

1. Surya Kumar Yadav has been handed the captaincy in this crucial T20 tournament, with Shubman Gill named vice-captain—reinstated to the T20 fold after an extended break from the format.
2. The pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has also made the cut despite recent fitness concerns, adding firepower to India’s bowling attack.

Full Squad

The selected 15 players are:

Top-Order & Middle Order: Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (WK), Jitesh Sharma (WK)

Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel

Surprising Omissions

1. Notably Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal have been left out, which came as a shock to many given their recent form and promise.
2. Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector, explained that tough decisions had to be made due to limited spots and reiterated it's "no fault of theirs".

Reactions have been swift on social media, with fans and experts raising concerns over potential favoritism. Notably, seasoned commentator Abhishek Nayar hinted at internal bias given that lesser-performing players like Rinku Singh and Harshit Rana—both linked with coach Gautam Gambhir—were selected over more in-form players.

Path Ahead

1. Asia Cup 2025 serves as a critical preparation for the T20 World Cup, offering a platform for India to test combinations and strategies in high-stakes conditions.
2. Grouped with Pakistan, UAE, and Oman in Group A, India is set to kick off their campaign against the UAE on September 10, 2025, in Dubai.

India’s selection blends experience with fresh talent, showcasing deliberate strategic planning despite the undercurrents of controversy. With regional supremacy and World Cup aspirations in sight, all eyes tomorrow turn to how this squad performs under the UAE sun.