India Asia Cup Squad 2025: Full List of Players, Standbys, and Key Selections

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the 15-member India squad for the Asia Cup 2025, with Suryakumar Yadav named as captain and Shubman Gill as vice-captain. The tournament will be a crucial test for India’s T20 side ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup, making squad selection a hot topic among fans and experts.

India Squad for Asia Cup 2025

• Suryakumar Yadav (C)

• Shubman Gill (VC)

• Abhishek Sharma

• Tilak Varma

• Hardik Pandya

• Shivam Dube

• Axar Patel

• Jitesh Sharma (WK)

• Jasprit Bumrah

• Arshdeep Singh

• Varun Chakaravarthy

• Kuldeep Yadav

• Sanju Samson (WK)

• Harshit Rana

• Rinku Singh

Standby Players:

• Yashasvi Jaiswal

• Prasidh Krishna

• Washington Sundar

• Riyan Parag

• Dhruv Jurel

Big Talking Points from the Squad

1. Why Shreyas Iyer Was Not Selected

The omission of Shreyas Iyer has been the most debated decision. Despite scoring 600+ runs in IPL 2025 and leading his team to the final, Iyer didn’t even make the standby list. Analysts like AB de Villiers and Brad Haddin called the decision “strange.” It appears selectors are prioritizing players who fit into a specific T20 template rather than rewarding IPL form alone.

2. Shami and Siraj Left Out

Veteran pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj were also excluded. With Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh leading the attack, selectors cited workload management as a key reason. Since the Asia Cup isn’t a World Cup, the management is looking to test younger pace options.

3. Harshit Rana’s Surprise Selection

Perhaps the most surprising pick is Harshit Rana, chosen over names like Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. While his IPL season was modest, he impressed in a T20I against England earlier this year, where he took three wickets as a concussion substitute. His inclusion shows the selectors’ intent to groom future fast-bowling talent.

Strengths of India’s Asia Cup 2025 Squad

• Dynamic Batting Line-up: With Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, and Abhishek Sharma, India has explosive firepower.

• Balanced All-round Options: Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel strengthen the team’s middle-order balance.

• Spin Attack: Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy bring variety, supported by Axar Patel’s left-arm spin.

• Pace Attack: Bumrah, Arshdeep, and Harshit Rana form a solid fast-bowling trio.

Key Takeaways

• Suryakumar Yadav will lead India for the first time in the Asia Cup.

• Shreyas Iyer’s omission remains the biggest selection controversy.

• Workload management played a role in Shami and Siraj’s absence.

• Harshit Rana has been backed for his potential rather than his records.

Conclusion

The India Asia Cup Squad 2025 is a blend of experienced campaigners and young talent. While some exclusions have raised eyebrows, the selection clearly indicates a forward-looking strategy to test fresh combinations ahead of global tournaments. Fans will be eager to see if this mix of youth and experience can deliver Asia Cup glory.