India announces Asia Cup 2025 squad
The Asia Cup has primarily been a platform for fine-tuning India’s plans ahead of bigger ICC events. The 2023 edition was played in the ODI format, with
India using it as a rehearsal for the ODI World Cup at home. Two years later, the 2025 Asia Cup is now being played in the T20 format, as the team prepares for the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will also be hosted by India and Sri Lanka. While the competition is the same, the composition of the Indian squad has gone through major changes.
India’s Asia Cup 2023 squad vs Asia Cup 2025 squad comparison
In 2023, India’s Asia Cup squad was filled with ODI specialists, led by Rohit Sharma with Virat Kohli as the batting stalwart. The Men in Blue took the opportunity tournament to solve long-standing issues like the No. 4 position and wicketkeeping combinations before the home World Cup. Players such as KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Siraj got the opportunity to fix their spot in the playing XI.
Meanwhile, in the 2025 squad, the picture is completely different. Rohit and Virat have since retired from T20Is and Tests. The emphasis now is on power-hitting, all-round options, and flexible middle-order batters who can match the demands of the shortest format. With Suryakumar Yadav named as the skipper and Shubman Gill as vice-captain, this squad has a mix of young energy and experience.
The biggest difference between the two squads is the absence of Rohit and Virat. In 2023, the two had the responsibility of providing stability in the batting order. By 2025, both legends will have moved on from T20Is, handing the leadership to Suryakumar. Gill, who was part of the 2023 ODI squad but not central in T20s then, has now been promoted to the vice-captain position.
India's attacking approach for Asia Cup 2025
The 2023 squad had players like KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj. However, these players are missing from the 2025 setup, replaced by options such as Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Varun Chakravarthy, and Abhishek Sharma.
Furthermore, earlier, KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan were the preferred wicketkeeping choices, with Sanju Samson only a traveling reserve. In 2025, Rahul and Kishan are absent altogether, with Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson taking the gloves.
While Jasprit Bumrah was present in both squads, the bowling around him has changed. The 2023 edition featured Shami, Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Prasidh Krishna in the pace department. In 2025, the seam attack is limited to Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, and Harshit Rana. On the spin front, Ravindra Jadeja is no longer in the mix after announcing his retirement, while Varun Chakravarthy has joined Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel to form a T20-friendly spin unit.
Players like Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and even Gill (though in different roles) were present in both squads. While India lifted the title on that occasion, it will be worth watching if they can replicate the same and defend their title.
India’s 15-member Asia Cup squad:
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah
Reserves:
Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal
