With the Asia Cup 2025 scheduled from September 9-28, Indian cricket's selectors are faced with one of their toughest calls in recent memory.
The tournament's
marquee clash against Pakistan, potentially occurring up to three times, raises the stakes for assembling a squad rated as close to fail-proof as possible. Ahead of the selection, two names have surged to the top of the selection debate: Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj.
Shubman Gill: Once a reserve and on the periphery of India's white-ball setup, Gill's recent run-scoring exploits have elevated his standing dramatically. After a stellar showing in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series in England, where he racked up a staggering 754 runs, Gill rushed home and immediately declared availability for domestic competitions, underlining his readiness and hunger for all cricket. Such commitment makes omitting him almost unthinkable, even if he hasn't played a T20I in over a year and faces a logjam with a settled opening pair in national T20s.
Mohammed Siraj: Siraj's ascension has been spectacular. He has delivered under pressure and in testing conditions, becoming the toast of fans and pundits alike. His growing reputation as a strike bowler places the selectors under pressure to retain his skills in the squad, despite ample alternatives in pace bowling. The India pacer was the spearhead with 23 wickets in the England series and his grit and gigantic bowling performance make him a must for the Asia Cup squad.
Apart from that, the likes of Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal have also made their case for selection in recent times, which has further compounded the dilemma for the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee.
Sanju Samson certain to be Picked
Sanju Samson will have the first choice place in the Asia Cup T20 as the Kerala star will be named for the competition. Apart from Samson, Jitesh Sharma is the frontrunner to be picked, as Rishabh Pant continues his recovery from the foot injury.
