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India Asia Cup 2025 squad: Shreyas Iyer Recalled, Jitesh Sharma Selected, Gill and Jaiswal Sidelined.

With the Asia Cup T20 looming large on the horizon - playing out in the UAE from September 9 to 28- the BCCI selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, is making India's 15-man team tomorrow, August 19, 2025.

Suryakumar Yadav Gets Captaincy

Suryakumar Yadav has passed his fitness test and will again lead India during the tournament. Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are set to miss out.

Reports show that Test captain Shubman Gill might miss the final T20 team. Selectors feel his swashbuckling top-order batting doesn't fit India's T20 strategy under Gambhir's management. Even with golden Test form and success in recent IPL, India's T20 plans prefer stability; going for in-form Sanju Samson–Abhishek Sharma opening pair, with Yashasvi Jaiswal as cover.

Selectors are said to be considering recalling Shreyas Iyer, who was a sizzler in IPL 2025 (604 runs at SR ~175), providing the assurance of middle overs. Wicket-keeper Jitesh Sharma is also a probable choice owing to his successful IPL finish with a healthy strike rate of 170, along with a lack of fit bodies like Rishabh Pant or Ishan Kishan.

With only 15 places, India's team keeps format specialization in mind. India can keep a core T20-based, with just one of Shubman Gill or Jaiswal being picked; most likely Jaiswal because of power-hitting at an extreme strike rate.

The Tactical Advantage: Consistency in Formats Rather than Statistics

Former bowler R. Ashwin and others emphasize the need for T20 specialists who can turn games around quickly, following the IPL model. Ashwin noted that the returning Test stars must adapt to high-tempo T20, a category where Gill's red-ball skills are inadequate.

With the squad announcement expected tomorrow, India is focusing on players suited for T20 impact. Shreyas Iyer and Jitesh Sharma are set for a comeback, while veterans like Gill and Jaiswal face uncertainty, not because of skill, but due to strategic fit in India’s changing T20 plans.