Asia Cup 2025: Shubman Gill to Lead as Suryakumar Yadav’s Fitness Concerns Loom

The Indian cricket team is riding high after securing a victory in the final Test against England on their home soil, leveling the series. The next challenge awaiting India is the Asia Cup, which is set to draw significant attention due to the high-stakes India-Pakistan matches. The tournament will be played in the T20 format, and significant changes are expected in the Indian team lineup compared to the one that played in England. Suryakumar Yadav is currently India’s T20 captain, but reports suggest Shubman Gill might lead the team in his place.

Suryakumar Yadav, who recently underwent abdominal surgery, is currently resting and under observation by the BCCI medical team. Doubts remain about his fitness recovery, and reports indicate he will only make the Asia Cup team if he regains batting fitness. Currently, the Indian team has three different captains across the three formats. India is likely to field a strong squad for the Asia Cup, and Shubman Gill, who proved his leadership in his first Test series as captain in England, is being considered for the T20 captaincy as well. Axar Patel, the current T20 vice-captain, is unlikely to take over as captain in Suryakumar’s absence, as India does not view him as a long-term leadership option. If not Gill, Hardik Pandya is another potential candidate, having previously served as vice-captain under Rohit Sharma before Axar took over when Suryakumar became captain.

Reports suggest that, apart from Gill, players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan are likely to be included in the squad. Shreyas Iyer, known for consistent performances, may also secure a spot, along with batters like Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, and Shivam Dube. All-rounders Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar are likely to be prioritized, ensuring India fields a strong all-round unit. The pace bowling attack is expected to feature Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammed Siraj, with Prasidh Krishna as a potential replacement if Bumrah is unavailable. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy are likely to be the specialist spinners.

The Asia Cup, to which India has a strong claim, will be held in the UAE from September 1 to 28. India’s first match is against the UAE on September 10, with the highly anticipated India-Pakistan group-stage clash scheduled for September 14. India will also face Oman on September 19. Group B includes teams like Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four, where they will face each other, with the top two progressing to the final on September 28 in Dubai. If India and Pakistan both reach the final, they could face off up to three times in the tournament.

Currently, there is social media chatter urging India not to play Pakistan, but the decision lies with the BCCI, as stated by the Union Sports Ministry.