Finally, the most-awaited squad day came, and Ajit Agarkar came to the media and gave his 15-player Indian team squad for the Asia Cup 2025. This will be the 17th edition of the Asia Cup as it starts on the 9th of September in the United Arab Emirates. Surely there are some surprise players missing out of the team. Let us have a look at Ajit Agarkar’s five surprising decisions for India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad.
India is all set to play their first match of the Asia Cup on 10th September, and the United Arab Emirates will be their opponents. They have Pakistan and Oman in their group, as all the teams are in Group A. India is also the defending champion, and they will want to defend their title. They are also the team to win the most Asia Cup titles.
More Stories: India Squad for Asia Cup 2025: Why are Test heroes Gill and Siraj likely to be dropped for the Asia Cup?
What are Ajit Agarkar’s five surprising decisions for India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad?
No place for Shreyas Iyer
One of the bigger surprises has to be Shreyas Iyer not getting a place in the 15th-man squad. The player was one of the top performers and the most reliable player in the middle order for the Indian team. With him being in the team, it gives that security if the team collapses. He had a great domestic as well as IPL season, taking his team to the final for the second year. This is what Ajit Agarkar had to say on Iyer:
With regards to Shreyas, I mean, you need to tell him who he can replace. No fault of his, nor is it ours. It’s just that we have to pick 15 at the moment, he’ll have to wait for his chance
Shubman Gill to be the vice-captain
With a great England series with the bat and the captain, it was sure that Shubman Gill would get a place in the team. He has also been made the vice-captain of the Indian team for the Asia Cup. When we look at the future, Shubman Gill will be the captain of Indian in all three formats. Gill surely gets that number three or four role in batting and has the chance to showcase he can play well in the white ball format too.
I can discuss with you right now, T20 cricket and Test cricket, he is already leading. And like Surya mentioned, he was the vice-captain the last time he played T20 cricket for India. So, we obviously see some leadership qualities in him. And behind his form in England was what we were hoping for. He obviously exceeded all our expectations with the kind of form that he showed with his back
Pacer Mohammed Siraj also missed out
The former Indian legendary spinner Harbajan Singh didn’t look that impressed at not seeing Mohammed Siraj in the squad for the Asia Cup. Mohammed Siraj was surely the best bowler in the India-England series and has worked the most in the test matches.
One thing is for sure, that Mohammed Siraj should have rested, but many of them expected him to be the 15th-man squad. He is the player who can single-handedly change the match.
Rinku Singh is getting a place
When we talk about the surprise players not called up, Rinku Singh is surely the one who questions his inclusion in the squad. He played 13 matches for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2025 Indian Premier League. His numbers were surely not up to the mark as he just scored 206 runs. The stats have surely not justified the price he has given.
Yashasvi Jaiswal is a standby player not in the 15th men’s squad
With Abhishek Sharma being a breakout player for the Indian Team, it was tough for Yashasvi Jaiswal to be the opener. It was expected that he would be in the 15th man squad, but now he is in the standby players list. He has played 23 matches and scored more than 700 runs, which also includes a century. Ajit Agarkar had to say this about Yashasvi Jaiswal:
With regards to Yashasvi, it’s just unfortunate again. There’s Abhishek Sharma, what he’s done over the last few months or a year or so that he’s been with the team. Plus, that he can bowl a little bit, gives us an option if required by the captain. One of these guys is always going to miss out. It’s just unfortunate that Yashasvi might have to wait for his chance
More Stuff: Top 10 Most Popular Players to Watch in the ASIA Cup 2025
