India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 has been unveiled, sparking debates not just about selections but also about who among the chosen will actually make it to the playing XI. Chief selector
Ajit Agarkar, alongside T20I captain Surya Kumar Yadav, announced the squad at a press conference that lasted nearly 20 minutes, where they fielded tough questions on omissions and team balance.
While the announcement settled the suspense over who made the squad, it has opened a fresh round of speculation over which 11 cricketers will walk out on the field, and which names will spend most of the tournament waiting in the dugout.
Sanju Samson
Perhaps the clearest indication of the likely bench list came from Agarkar himself. Asked about Sanju Samson’s place, the chairman of selectors admitted that Samson had been filling in as opener only because Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal were tied up with Test commitments. With Gill’s return as vice-captain and the management backing Abhishek Sharma to open, Samson’s role appears diminished.
“Sanju was playing because Shubman and Yashasvi were not available at that point. So was Abhishek. I mean, Abhishek’s performances clearly make it hard to leave him out. Plus, his bowling is handy,” Agarkar reportedly said. From those words, it seems Jitesh Sharma is being groomed as the first-choice wicketkeeper, leaving Samson a likely backup.
Rinku Singh
Rinku Singh, despite retaining his spot in the squad, faces an even steeper climb. Agarkar was blunt in saying the team combination simply did not allow a place for Shreyas Iyer, let alone Rinku in the XI. “With regards to Shreyas, I mean, you need to tell him who he can replace. No fault of his, nor is it ours. It’s just that we have to pick 15 at the moment, he’ll have to wait for his chance,” Agarkar said.
If Iyer, with his proven middle-order credentials, was considered surplus, it is hard to imagine Rinku breaking in ahead of allrounders Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, who already cover the finishing duties. For now, Rinku looks set to be a reserve option.
Harshit Rana
The bowling department looks equally stacked. Jasprit Bumrah, having declared himself fit and available, is locked in as India’s pace spearhead. Arshdeep Singh’s left-arm angle provides variation, and Hardik Pandya can chip in as the third seamer. That leaves Harshit Rana as the likely pacer to miss out, barring injuries or unexpected pitch demands.
Agarkar also reiterated that Bumrah’s workload management would remain a priority. “Because we know how valuable he is. Clearly, we want him available for all the big games,” he said, hinting that while Bumrah is first-choice, his use will be carefully calibrated.
Yashasvi Jaiswal And Shreyas Iyer
Among the talking points of the presser were the omissions of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer. Both had strong IPL 2025 seasons but did not find a place in the 15. Agarkar termed their absence “unfortunate”, while highlighting Abhishek Sharma’s all-round abilities as a decisive factor.
“With regards to Yashasvi, it’s just unfortunate again. There’s Abhishek Sharma, what he’s done over the last few months or a year or so that he’s been with the team. Plus, that he can bowl a little bit, gives us an option if required by the captain,” Agarkar said.
Both Jaiswal and Iyer now find themselves in the standby list alongside Dhruv Jurel, Prasidh Krishna, and Washington Sundar.
Shubman Gill’s leadership role
The reserves underline India’s depth, but also point to the management’s clear pecking order. Shubman Gill’s reinstatement as vice-captain after a year’s gap has also sparked speculation about his long-term leadership role. Agarkar, however, brushed aside talk of Gill as an all-format captain. “I can discuss with you right now, T20 cricket and Test cricket, he is already leading. And like Surya mentioned, he was the vice-captain the last time he played T20 cricket for India. So, we obviously see some leadership qualities in him,” he said.
Going by Agarkar’s words and the team balance, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Harshit Rana appear the most vulnerable when it comes to making the final XI. But as the Asia Cup has shown in the past, injuries, form slumps, and tactical shifts can change the picture quickly.
India’s Asia Cup 2025 Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Jitesh Sharma, Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakraborty, Kuldeep Yadav.
