India’s squad for Asia Cup: 5 announcements by Ajit Agarkar that surprised many

India revealed its 15-member squad for the Men’s Asia Cup, with Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav addressing the media. Shubman Gill returned as vice-captain, while Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh retain their places. Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack in the tournament, starting with India’s first match against the UAE on September 10.

In the press conference, Agarkar and Yadav addressed questions regarding the omission of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer. They also named five standbys: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Prasidh Krishna, and Washington Sundar. Let’s talk about five talking points from the press conference.

Shubman Gill reappointed as vice-captain

Suryakumar Yadav explained that Gill was recalled to maintain continuity, especially with his availability for the T20 format.

“The last time Shubman Gill played a T20I for India was during our tour of Sri Lanka. He was the vice-captain when I was in charge. That was when we began the new cycle for the T20 World Cup. Since then, he’s been occupied with Test series. He’s in the squad, and we’re glad to have him,” Suryakumar Yadav told reporters.

Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s omission

Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal made a significant impact for their respective franchises in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. However, they were recalled for T20Is. Speaking to reporters, Agarkar expressed regret over their omission but stated that, given the current strength of the squad, there is little that can be done.

“As for him, you need to identify who he would replace. It’s not his fault, nor ours. We can only select 15 players at this moment, so he’ll have to wait for his opportunity,” Agarkar said about Shreyas.

“As for Yashasvi, it’s unfortunate. We have Abhishek Sharma, who has shown strong form over the past few months, and his ability to bowl adds value, offering the captain an additional option if needed. One of these players will always miss out, and sadly, Yashasvi will have to wait for his opportunity,” Agarkar explained.

Sanju Samson’s place in the playing XI

Ajit Agarkar confirmed that Sanju Samson was opening due to Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s unavailability for T20Is. This means Samson’s spot in the Asia Cup playing XI is not guaranteed.

“Sanju was playing because Shubman and Yashasvi were not available. So was Abhishek. Abhishek’s performances undoubtedly make it difficult to exclude him. Plus, his bowling is handy,” said Agarkar.

Is Shubman Gill capable of leading India across all formats?

Shubman Gill returns as vice-captain in T20Is, raising questions about his potential to captain all formats. With Rohit Sharma‘s future as ODI captain unclear, Ajit Agarkar sidestepped the question about Gill’s all-format captaincy.

“I can talk about T20 and Test cricket, where he is already leading. As Surya mentioned, he was the vice-captain the last time he played T20 cricket for India. We see leadership qualities in him. His performance in England was exactly what we hoped for, and he exceeded all our expectations with the form he displayed with the bat,” Agarkar added.

“It’s a great sign, especially with the pressure that comes with being a captain. As I mentioned, I can only speak about T20 and Test cricket at the moment.”

Managing Jasprit Bumrah’s workload

Jasprit Bumrah played just three Tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England due to workload management and faced criticism for his selective participation. Despite this, he has made himself available for the Asia Cup starting September 9. Agarkar assured that Bumrah’s workload management will remain in place, emphasising his significant importance to the team.

“I don’t think there’s a formal plan in place at the moment. There has, of course, been a good break after the England series. The team management, physios, and relevant personnel are always in contact. This has been the case even before his injury; we’ve always tried to manage him carefully because we know his value. Ultimately, we want him fit for all the key matches,” Agarkar mentioned.

“There are World Cups, Champions Trophy, and major series against England or Australia, where you want him available at all times. Most fast bowlers are closely monitored, and given his injury history over the past 2 or 3 years, extra care is being taken to manage him, recognising how unique and valuable he is. This approach won’t change, whether it’s for this series or the next six months. We’ll assess how he’s feeling and when the team needs him, which is the most important consideration,” he concluded.

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