India Asia Cup 2025 Squad Announcement Highlights: Shubman Gill reinstated as vice-captain; Shreyas Iyer snubbed

Asia Cup 2025 India Squad LIVE: We're just getting some exclusive information that states the squad reveal will happen today, come what may. It could either be via X or through a press conference later in the evening.

Asia Cup 2025 India Squad LIVE: With the rain delaying the press conference, the board could still proceed, but with these two conditions.

1. Drop the press conference and announce the squad via X today itself.
2. Postpone the PC by a day, and business as usual tomorrow.

Which one do you prefer?

Asia Cup 2025 India Squad LIVE: The recent numbers tell a story of sheer firepower. Abhishek Sharma has been nothing short of sensational, smashing 535 runs in 16 innings at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 193.84, lit up by two centuries, two fifties, and a staggering 41 sixes. Sanju Samson has matched the fireworks with 487 runs at 171.47, including three hundreds and 34 sixes that underline his big-match temperament. Tilak Varma, in just nine outings, has already left a mark with 413 runs at 170.66, decorated with two centuries, a fifty, and 27 sixes — a strike rate that screams intent. Add to that Hardik Pandya's finishing muscle — 320 runs at 145.45 with a crucial fifty and 13 sixes — and India's batting unit suddenly looks like a ticking time bomb ready to go off in the Asia Cup.

Asia Cup 2025 India Squad LIVE: Talk about a BT! Due to the Mumbai rains, the Ajit Agarkar-shepherded press conference is set to be delayed. As the rain continues to batter Mumbai, operations have come to a standstill, with schools being closed and people advised WFH. An update shared by the BCCI reads, "Kindly note that the first press conference is expected to be delayed owing to weather disruptions."

Asia Cup 2025 India Squad LIVE: The axe may still sadly fall on India’s Test captain. According to a report in the Times of India, a BCCI source has verified that Jaiswal, in fact, has a stronger case for himself in India’s Asia Cup squad than Gill. This is because Jaiswal has the tendency to hit more boundaries in the Powerplay. The source also reminded that when India won the T20 World Cup in the West Indies last year, Gill spent his time as part of the reserves category. Gill may be a fabulous Test and ODI player, but it seems as if the selectors just don't feel the same way about him in T20Is. Yet.

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement Live: The Asia Cup, now played in or before a World Cup year, provides an opportunity for the teams to finalise their players that will form the crux of the biggest cricket tournament there is in the world. Happened in 2022 and then again in 2023. Rest assured, the list that Agarkar comes up with will pretty much be in the scheme of things for next year's home T20 World Cup. Of course, unless something very dramatic happens – like a freak injury or a drastic decline in form, these 15 players are all but sealed.

Asia Cup 2025 India Squad LIVE: Whenever Ajit Agarkar addresses a press conference, it usually results in fireworks. Recall the last time, when he and SS Das announced India's squad for the tour of England. The chairman of selectors was constantly bombarded with questions about newly appointed captain Shubman Gill, the exits of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the reasons behind picking Sai Sudharsan, and whatnot. This time, too, expect no mercy from the reporters in attendance. If Gill is dropped, you know what the centre of all the discussion is going to be.

Asia Cup 2025 India Squad LIVE: While all the attention is on the bigwigs, spare a thought for Shivam Dube, who, according to Ravichandran Ashwin, could miss out on a place in the squad. Dube played a handy innings of 27 off 16 balls, but his scores in the last four innings read 26, 13, 53 and 13. Ashwin reckons the only way Dube can retain his place in the XI is if the selection committee leaves out Shreyas Iyer, which is a different discussion altogether. But one fact that cannot be undermined is that India needs finishers. For us, it's a straight-up shootout between Dube and Rinku.

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement Live: Suryakumar Yadav last played a competitive match in June, during the IPL. By the time the Asia Cup comes knocking, he will have gone two entire months without having played any form of cricket whatsoever. He underwent another surgery a little while ago and worked on his fitness to get the NCA's approval. But as much as he works off the field, match form and practice are a different ballgame altogether. Then again, this is a man who makes batting look ridiculously easy when it full flow. And India can't settle for anything less with a big trophy on the line.

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement Live: India's opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have been the most red-hot duo in a long time. Last year, Samson and Abhishek captured the imagination of the world, and how? Samson smashed three T20I centuries, while Abhishek, since November of last year, has notched up scores of 50, 79 and 130, the last one coming against England. With the selectors and management investing so much of their faith, Samson-Abhishek will be unbreakable and looks set for next year's T20 World Cup at home.

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement Live: Here’s the 15 that India went ahead with for the England T20Is ahead of the Champions Trophy this year.

1 Abhishek Sharma

2 Sanju Samson

3 Tilak Varma

4 Suryakumar Yadav

5 Hardik Pandya

6 Rinku Singh

7 Nitish Reddy

8 Axar Patel

9 Ravi Bishnoi

10 Arshdeep Singh

11 Varun Chakaravarthy

12 Mohammed Shami

13 Washington Sundar

14 Dhruv Jurel

15 Harshit Rana

Two are definitely out – Shami and Jurel. Also, please note that this list does not feature Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill or Shreyas Iyer.

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement Live: With a whole lot of people from the Indian cricket community speaking their mind, Sunil Gavaskar has a very mellow request for the BCCI: Ensure the team that's picked is best for Indian cricket. Gavaskar, in his column for Mid-Day, reckons the selectors have made some brave decisions in the past, and the results have spoken for themselves, so they deserve credit. But when it comes to picking the final Playing XI, that responsibility rightly rests with the team management. As the committee prepares to name the Asia Cup squad in the coming days, the only priority should be the best interests of Indian cricket – both for the present and the future.

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement Live: With increasing doubts over Shubman Gill's place in the squad of 15, Harbhajan Singh feels leaving the 25-year-old isn't a wise decision. In fact, the former Indian spinner has a straightforward message for Ajit Agarkar: Don't underestimate his T20 batting skills and count him out at your own peril. Since this is the 'new era', Bhajji wants Gill to not only be part of the side but be groomed to take charge of the team in future. That, of course, is the plan, Bhajju pa. But who do you leave him out for? There are only so many places at the end of the day.

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement Live: Rinku Singh, who shot to fame by smashing five sixes in an over against Yash Dayal in the 2023 IPL, is currently playing in the UPT20 league, but the left-handed batter may or may not break back into India's T20I squad. Rinku's last good innings for India came in Delhi against Bangladesh in October 2024. Strangely enough, his bat has since then gone silent for India. He had a series to forget against South Africa, before scoring 30 and 9 against England earlier this year. In this year's IPL too, Rinku scored just 206 runs from 13 matches. Still, Rinku's chances seem positive, given India's need for a finisher. Hardik Pandya alone may not be able to get the job done.

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement Live: The previous Asia Cup was held in 2023 across Sri Lanka and Pakistan in a hybrid model and ODI format, with India winning the tournament after demolishing Sri Lanka in the final. However, quite a few players from that trophy-winning squad won't feature in the list this year. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have retired from T20Is, as has Ravindra Jadeja. Mohammed Siraj is expected to get a break. No place for Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul either. Mohammed Shami and Shardul Thakur are also to remain off the radar.

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement Live: The Asia Cup might begin on September 9. However, all eyes are on the Group A encounter between India and Pakistan in Dubai on September 14. Calls continue to grow in India for the BCCI to boycott cricketing ties with the neighbours, considering what happened in Pahalgam.

A terror attack earlier this year killed 26 tourists. India launched a retaliatory Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). One expected the BCCI not to engage in any cricketing ties with Kashmir after the terror attack. Many were left stunned once the schedule for the Asia Cup was announced.

India and Pakistan will potentially square off thrice in the tournament if they make it to the Super 4s and final. BONKERS!

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement Live: Why wouldn’t you when you’ve won the title more than anybody? India, the defending Asia Cup Champions, have won the silverware a record eight times. It all began in 1984, when India lifted the cup by winning the inaugural edition. India boycotted the 1986 edition but made it a hat-trick in 1988, 1990-91 and 1995. The Men In Blue had to wait almost 15 years for their next Asia Cup title, but once they did, when MS Dhoni's men beat Sri Lanka in the final in 2010, India reigned supreme thrice more in 2016, 2018 and 2023, under MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma tasting success.

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement Live: Ajit Agarkar and Suryakumar Yadav's squad announcement and subsequent press conference will air live on the JioHotstar app and website. The media interaction is expected to begin at 1:30 PM IST.

Later in the day, the selectors will also announce the squad for the Women's World Cup, beginning September 30. Harmanpreet Kaur and chief selector Neetu David will address a separate press conference, which will also be live on the JioHotstar app and website. The interaction will begin at 3:30 PM IST.

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement LIVE: Team India will begin its Asia Cup campaign against the UAE on September 10, followed by the much-anticipated clash against Pakistan on Sunday, September 14. India then plays Oman five days later, on September 19, their last league match. The two teams are likely to meet again in the Super Fours, and if all goes to plan, with no surprises, do not rule out a contest between these two teams in the final. India beat Pakistan but also lost to them in the 2022 Asia Cup. A year later, centuries from Virat Kohli and KL Rahul inflicted more hurt on Pakistan.

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement Live: Yeah, you read that right. Ahead of the selection meeting, Ajit Agarkar has received a suggestion from former chairman of selectors Kris Srikkanth, who has advised the committee not to wait on Vaibhav Suryavanshi and include him in the squad for the eight-team tournament.

This is because Srikkanth feels Sanju Samson is not a sure-shot starter for him; he would instead pick Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Suryavanshi. He also stated that Shubman Gill has no place and opined that Sai Sudharsan can get a look-in based on his form for the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2025 season. Sudharsan finished as the leading run-scorer in the IPL 2025 season as the young left-hander piled up more than 700 runs, winning the Orange Cap.

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement Live: For a long time, it wasn't known whether the squad announcement would be via a press conference or a plain and simple BCCI release. But the final information is now out.

The selection meeting will begin at 12 PM IST. T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav will also attend. As soon as the meeting is over, the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, will announce the squad to the media. Agarkar is expected to be grilled by reporters over the squad picked by him for the Asia Cup. Besides the chairman of selectors, India's T20I captain will also sit with him in the press conference. The interaction is expected to begin at 1:30 PM IST.

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement Live: When it comes to picking the spinners, the selectors' task is pretty easy. Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi pick themselves as the quartet has done well in whatever chances they have received in T20Is. Yuzvendra Chahal's exile is all set to continue as it is unlikely that Ajit Agarkar will make a wildcard move and include him in the squad despite Bishnoi's dwindling returns off late.

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement Live: For the simple reason: Way too many players for very selected spots. Here, let us paint a better picture for you. You have a feast in front of you, but you can only pick 2, or 3 at max for starters, main course, drinks and desserts. How would you? Similarly, there are at least 5 talented and deserving candidates for every spot, but only two will make it. Max 3. Let this graphic explain to you just why Agarkar and his team will have a tough time finalising the squad of 15, or 17 if the BCCI opts for reserves.

India Asia Cup Squad Announcement Live: Ahead of the selection meeting, former India batter Mohammad Kaif picked his Asia Cup squad, giving Shubman Gill the nod ahead of Yashasvi Jaiswal. There was no room for Rinku Singh in his team.

Kaif feels that only one between Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal can make the team. Gill gets the edge because of the way he approached the England series and made it 2-2. Besides scoring 754 runs, Gill also played well in the IPL, accumulating 650 runs.

Kaif's Asia Cup squad: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Axar Patel (Vice-captain), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, Jitesh Sharma.