Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK  : The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to announce the squad for the 2025 Asia Cup in mid-August, with Shubman Gill emerging as a leading candidate for a leadership role in the T20I side. The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, is expected to finalize the squad on August 19 or 20, pending fitness updates from the Centre of Excellence's Sports Science team. A key consideration is the availability of captain Suryakumar Yadav, who has resumed batting in the nets at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru after recovering from an injury. 

Shubman Gill's impressive performance as India's Test captain, including a remarkable 754 runs against England, has solidified his position in the squad. However, the leadership role in the T20I format remains a topic of discussion. In the previous T20I series, Axar Patel served as vice-captain, while Gill was the deputy when Suryakumar first took over as T20 captain in Sri Lanka. The selectors face a dilemma between continuity and the momentum Gill brings to the team.

The core of the team, which has performed well under Suryakumar's captaincy, is expected to remain unchanged. The top five—Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Hardik Pandya—are likely to retain their positions. Abhishek Sharma, currently the top-ranked T20 batter in the ICC rankings, and Sanju Samson, who excelled with both bat and gloves in the previous season, are integral to the lineup. Shubman Gill's strong IPL performance and exceptional Test form add depth to the top order, though fitting all these players into the lineup poses a challenge.

Notably, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan, despite their strong performances, are not expected to feature in the squad due to the competition for top-order spots. KL Rahul, while a first-choice player in ODIs, is unlikely to be included in the T20I squad as he does not align with India's middle-order plans for the format.

In the wicketkeeping department, Sanju Samson is almost certain to retain his position as the primary wicketkeeper. The second wicketkeeping slot is a contest between Jitesh Sharma and Dhruv Jurel. Jurel, who was part of the last T20 series, faces competition from Jitesh, who impressed during RCB's victorious IPL run, particularly with his finishing abilities. 

The all-rounder slot sees Shivam Dube likely stepping in as the backup to Hardik Pandya, especially in the absence of Nitish Kumar Reddy, who is recovering from an injury sustained during the England series.

Jasprit Bumrah is set to headline the bowling unit in the Asia Cup. However, with the West Indies Test series looming in early October, team management may consider resting him for the first match of that tour. Arshdeep Singh is expected to be the second seamer, while the third spot could come down to a choice between IPL standout Prasidh Krishna and the in-form Harshit Rana. Prasidh picked up 25 wickets in the last IPL season, but Rana’s pace and bounce have impressed the selectors.

The spin department is expected to feature a familiar trio: Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and one of Kuldeep Yadav or Varun Chakravarthy. The final composition of the squad will depend on the fitness updates and the team's strategic requirements for the Asia Cup. 

As the announcement date approaches, the cricketing community eagerly anticipates the final squad, which will aim to defend India's title in the Asia Cup and set the stage for the upcoming ICC events.