The countdown for the Asia Cup 2025 has begun, with the tournament set to start on September 9. This time, the Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format, making it an important preparation event before the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. However, according to reports, two big names—Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj—are likely to be left out of the Indian squad.
The final squad for India will be decided on August 19, when selectors meet in Mumbai. Reports suggest that the team management and selectors have already discussed some tough decisions to balance the team combination.
Shubman Gill has been one of India’s most consistent batters in recent years. He was in brilliant form during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, scoring heavily in the Test series. Many fans expected him to be a natural choice in the Asia Cup squad as well.
However, the Asia Cup will be played in the shorter T20 format, where team management is looking at more aggressive opening options. According to reports, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are the preferred choices for the opening slot. Both players are known for their attacking style in the powerplay overs, which is a key requirement in T20 cricket.
There is still room for one more opener in the squad, and this is where Gill’s position looks under threat. Yashasvi Jaiswal, another young and explosive opener, is currently the favorite to get that spot. Jaiswal has impressed with his fearless batting in T20 internationals and in the IPL, making him a strong option ahead of Gill.
Apart from the openers, the Indian middle order is expected to include Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rinku Singh. These three batters have been performing consistently in T20 cricket and are seen as crucial to India’s plans for both the Asia Cup and the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Among all-rounders, the selectors are reportedly considering either Shivam Dube or Washington Sundar. Both bring balance to the side with their ability to contribute in batting as well as bowling. Shreyas Iyer, despite a great IPL season for Punjab Kings, is also likely to miss out on the squad, as the team looks for more versatile options in the shortest format.
If Gill’s exclusion surprises fans, the absence of Mohammed Siraj could be an even bigger shock. Siraj has been one of India’s most dependable pacers across formats. He recently delivered an excellent performance in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, proving his ability to trouble top batters with both pace and swing.
Despite this, reports suggest that Siraj may not find a place in the Asia Cup squad. The reason is not form but team balance. In T20 cricket, India prefers a mix of express pace, death bowling skills, and all-round options. The selectors are expected to put their trust in Jasprit Bumrah to lead the pace attack.
Supporting Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh is likely to be included for his left-arm variety and ability to bowl in the death overs. Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana are also in contention to add depth to the pace attack. All-rounder Hardik Pandya will further strengthen the bowling line-up with his medium pace, giving India more flexibility in choosing its combination.
While Siraj has been brilliant in longer formats and ODIs, the selectors may feel that his style of bowling is not as effective in T20s compared to others. This decision, however, will be closely debated by fans and experts, as leaving out a bowler in top form could backfire in a high-pressure tournament like the Asia Cup.
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If the reports are accurate, India will enter the Asia Cup 2025 with a youth-heavy and aggressive squad. The likes of Abhishek Sharma, Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, and Tilak Varma show that selectors are focusing on fearless batters who can keep up the scoring rate throughout the innings.
The absence of experienced names like Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj may raise eyebrows, but it also reflects India’s strategy of preparing a specialist T20 team. With the T20 World Cup coming up next year, selectors are clearly aiming to build a side that can handle fast starts, power-hitting, and pressure situations.
The final squad announcement on August 19 will confirm whether these reports are accurate. If Gill and Siraj do miss out, it will surely be one of the most talked-about selection calls in recent times. Fans will then turn their attention to how India performs in the Asia Cup with its new-look squad.
The Asia Cup 2025 is not just about regional rivalry but also about preparing for bigger challenges ahead. Leaving out stars like Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj might look risky, but the selectors appear to be prioritizing team balance and T20-specific skills over reputation. Whether this strategy works or not will be seen once the tournament begins on September 9.
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