(Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the 15-member squad for the Asia Cup 2025, which will be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28. The announcement has created a lot of discussion among fans and former players.

Suryakumar Yadav has been named the captain of the team, while Shubman Gill will be the vice-captain. This shows a new direction for India’s T20 team, especially after the retirement of senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the shortest format. This squad seems to focus on youth, current form, and flexibility.

The team includes several well-known names like Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav. Newer players like Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Abhishek Sharma, and Harshit Rana have also been selected. Wicketkeeping responsibilities will be handled by Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma.

In bowling, India has gone with a balanced mix. Apart from Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, they have included spinners like Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. This shows that the team is preparing for different pitch conditions in the UAE.

However, the selection has also sparked debate. Many fans were surprised to see that Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer did not make the main squad. Both performed well in recent matches and the IPL. They have been named as standby players along with Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Washington Sundar. Former players like Dinesh Karthik and Mohammad Kaif have expressed disappointment over these exclusions, calling them unexpected and unfortunate.

Some also noticed that Axar Patel was replaced as vice-captain by Shubman Gill. The chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, said that Gill’s leadership experience in Tests and his batting form played a role in the decision. He also added that players who missed out still remain important for future series and tournaments.

India’s first match will be against UAE, and fans are especially looking forward to the high-voltage match against Pakistan. India is the defending champion and has a strong record in the Asia Cup. The team hopes this new lineup can continue the winning tradition. The squad announcement shows a clear intention to try new talent while keeping experienced players in the mix. With the World T20 coming up next year, this Asia Cup will also help the selectors assess the strengths and weaknesses of this group