India announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup on August 19, 2025. The team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, looks balanced with experienced bowlers and a strong batting lineup. One of the highlights was Shubman Gill’s comeback to the T20I side after more than a year. Not just that, he has also been named the vice-captain, showing that selectors trust his leadership and batting ability.
The squad features star bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, along with spinners Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy. While the selection has been praised for balance, it has also left many cricket fans surprised. A few players who performed brilliantly in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 did not find a place in the squad. Over the years, IPL has often been the platform for players to break into the national team, but this time the selectors chose differently.
One of the most talked-about misses was Yashasvi Jaiswal, who many thought deserved a place. But beyond him, there were three standout performers in IPL 2025 who were not picked, even though their stats were impressive. Let’s take a look at who they are and why their exclusion has shocked many fans.
Prasidh Krishna had a dream season in the IPL this year. Playing for the Gujarat Titans, he won the purple cap — the award given to the highest wicket-taker of the season. Prasidh picked up 25 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 8.27 and an average of 19.52. His strike rate of 14.16 was the best among the top five bowlers of the tournament, showing just how effective he was in breaking partnerships.
With these numbers, many expected him to be an automatic choice for the Asia Cup squad. However, the selectors decided to go with other options, including Harshit Rana, who had only 15 wickets in 13 matches with a much higher economy rate of 10.18.
Prasidh’s exclusion has raised questions about the selection criteria. Fans believe he had done more than enough to earn a spot, especially since India needs reliable pace bowlers in the T20 format. Missing out despite being the top wicket-taker is definitely a tough pill to swallow for him and his supporters.
Another big surprise was the omission of Shreyas Iyer. The stylish middle-order batsman has always been considered a reliable performer, but this year he went above and beyond. After being released by the Kolkata Knight Riders, Iyer joined the Punjab Kings — a franchise that had not made the playoffs since 2014. Under his captaincy, Punjab had a brilliant run and reached the final of IPL 2025.
Iyer led from the front with the bat. In 17 matches, he scored 604 runs at an average of 50.33 and an outstanding strike rate of 175.07. He was also the only non-opener in the top 8 run-scorers of the season and had the best strike rate among the top 10 batsmen.
Despite such consistent performance, Iyer did not make the cut. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained during the press conference that Iyer will “have to wait longer” for his opportunity. This decision has confused fans, as Iyer’s ability to anchor innings in the middle order could have been very valuable in the Asia Cup.
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If leaving out the purple cap winner was shocking, the selectors did the same with the orange cap holder — Sai Sudharsan. The young left-handed batsman has been one of the most consistent players in the IPL since he started his career. In IPL 2025, Sudharsan scored a massive 759 runs at an average of 54.21 and a strike rate of 156.17. His tally included six half-centuries and a century, making him one of the standout performers of the season.
Despite these numbers, he did not find a place in the Asia Cup squad or even among the standbys. This move surprised many, as Sudharsan has shown not only consistency but also the ability to score quickly — an important skill in T20 cricket. His absence means India will miss out on a player who was in great form heading into the tournament.
The Asia Cup 2025 squad looks strong and balanced on paper, but the exclusion of big IPL performers like Prasidh Krishna, Shreyas Iyer, and Sai Sudharsan has raised eyebrows. In the past, IPL performances often paved the way for players to earn a national call-up. However, this time the selectors prioritized experience and team balance over IPL form.
Fans will now wait to see if the chosen squad can deliver results in the Asia Cup. But for Krishna, Iyer, and Sudharsan, the message is clear — they may have to wait longer, despite proving their talent on the biggest T20 stage in the world.
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