BCCI Names 15-Member Squad for Asia Cup; Iyer and Jaiswal Among Top Names Missing
In a significant announcement made on Tuesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed the 15-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup, scheduled to kick off on September 9 in the UAE. The announcement stirred up conversations among cricket fans as some notable players, including Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal, were left out of the team.
The selection committee affirmed its confidence in Test skipper Shubman Gill, not only including him in the squad but also appointing him as the vice-captain. Jasprit Bumrah, India’s pace spearhead, is making a comeback after a long injury layoff and is part of the T20 squad. This marks Bumrah’s first T20 tournament since the World Cup last year. His last match was highly anticipated given his absence due to fitness issues and the looming Test series against the West Indies in October.
Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector, expressed excitement over Gill’s inclusion. He mentioned that Gill had shown outstanding form during his time in England and he exceeded their expectations. “Gill was vice-captain the last time he played T20 cricket, and now that he is available, it gives the captain more options,” Agarkar stated during the press conference. The decision on the final playing XI is now in the hands of Captain Suryakumar Yadav and Head Coach Gautam Gambhir.
While the squad features some exciting talents, it missed some prominent names. Yashasvi Jaiswal was one of the players who narrowly missed out on a spot. He had performed impressively in the IPL 2025 season, scoring 559 runs for the Rajasthan Royals, but the selectors chose to list him as one of the five standby players. Agarkar commented on this decision, highlighting the mix of players available. “It’s unfortunate for Jaiswal, especially with Abhishek Sharma coming into the mix and providing extra bowling options,” he explained.
Also missing from the squad is Shreyas Iyer, who has been a consistent performer. Iyer last played in a T20I back in December 2023 and showcased his skills with a brilliant half-century against Australia. Despite an impressive run in IPL 2025, where he scored 604 runs and led Punjab Kings to the finals, Iyer could not secure a place. Agarkar remarked, “With all due respect to Shreyas, the question is, who would he replace? It’s not his fault, but it’s a tough call.”
Aside from Iyer, other notable omissions included KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan. Rahul had a remarkable performance in England recently but did not make the cut for the T20I squad. His determination to play in the T20 World Cup was well noted after the IPL season, where he scored 539 runs in 13 innings.
Sai Sudharsan, who won the Orange Cap by scoring 759 runs in the IPL 2025 season, also finds himself absent from the Asia Cup squad, although he secured a spot in the Test team. The selectors also chose to rest Mohammad Siraj, who had been in excellent form during the England series. Washington Sundar will serve as a standby player.
The Asia Cup features tough competition, with India placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Oman, and the UAE. Group B consists of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong. The squad announced by BCCI boasts a blend of experienced players and emerging talents, and fans remain hopeful about India’s performance in the prestigious tournament.
Here’s the final India squad for the Asia Cup:
- 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 Chakravarthy
The cricketing world looks forward to the Asia Cup, where fans will be keenly watching how these talented players perform on the international stage.
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