India Asia Cup 2025: Expectations and Predictions

The Asia Cup 2025 is set to start from September 9 onwards. The final will be played on September 28. UAE will host the coveted tournament which is in the T20I format. This is the 17th edition of the Asia Cup and only the third time it’s being played in the shortest format. With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in the picture, this will serve as a good test for Asia’s biggies.

Eight teams are divided into two groups with India placed in Group A alongside UAE, Oman and Pakistan. The top 2 teams will reach the Super 4.

India, under Suryakumar Yadav, will fancy their chances of lifting the trophy. India have won 8 Asia Cup honours out of which one has been in the 20-over format back in 2016. 

The talking point of the squad was appointing Shubman Gill as the vice-captain. The BCCI is perhaps looking at Gill as an all-format skipper. He is also being touted to replace Rohit Sharma as the ODI captain. Gill was earlier appointed India’s Test captain and led India to a 2-2 draw in their tour of England.

Gill’s return means Yashasvi Jaiswal getting snubbed as the back-up opener. Also what it does is Gill will walk into the side in that top order which could tweak things a bit. Meanwhile, there was no place for Shreyas Iyer in the side which grabbed headlines. Notably, Jasprit Bumrah features and that is a positive.

Ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, we decode the strengths, weaknesses and analysis of the India side.

India’s squad for Asia Cup

Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.

Standby players

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel.

Strengths of India

The Indian bowling unit has the desired balance on offer. In Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, you get two quality specialists. Arshdeep will be key in the power play overs. Bumrah is known for his exploits at the death. Arshdeep has 99 wickets in T20Is, whereas Bumrah has 89. 

India will field all-rounder Hardik Pandya as the 3rd pace option. With 94 wickets at 26.43, Pandya is a massive figure. Harshit Rana can be an able backup. Another bowler who is solid at the death. However, he has played one one T20I.

The spin department screams out for class. Varun Chakravarthy leads the spin show. He was superb in the Champions Trophy in UAE where India were stationed. In 18 matches, he has 33 wickets at 14.57. 

The left-arm wrist-spin of Kuldeep Yadav will be handy. He owns 69 scalps at just 14.07. 

The third spin option and a mighty one is all-rounder Axar Patel. He boasts 71 wickets at 22.12. 

India could field all three spinners and three pace options. This means they will have 7 batters with two all-rounders. If they opt for an extra batter given the surface, Kuldeep could sit out. 

India’s two all-round options are a strength. Pandya owns 1812 T20I runs at a strike rate worth 141.67. Overall in T20s, Pandya strikes at 185.29 in the final 4 overs. This shows his class in the back end. In T20Is, his strike rate is 186-plus in this phase. As mentioned above, he is a successful bowler and guarantees 4 overs.

Meanwhile, Axar is also an experienced figure. He could chip in well when needed and provide stability. 

Team India boasts of some terrific batters. You have Abhishek Sharma, who can set the stage on fire with his exploits upfront. His strike rate of 193.84 is massive in T20Is. He owns two tons and 2 fifties from 16 innings.

Suryakumar at number 4 is the key figure in this unit. With a solid average of 38-plus and a strike rate of 167.07, Suryakumar with 2500-plus runs can take the game away in a flash.

And then there is Tilak Varma, who has been a revelation at number three. He averages over 55 in this position for India. His strike rate of 169.73 is icing on the cake. 

India have Shivam Dube at number 5. He averages over 31 in T20Is and owns a SR of 140-plus. He was part of the T20 World Cup side in 2024. 

Weaknesses of the Indian side

One major weakness which almost disrupts many things is the inclusion of Gill as vice-captain, which means he walks straight into the XI. India had a settled opening combination of Abhishek and Sanju Samson. 

Samson has fared well as an opener, scoring 512 runs at 39.38. His strike rate of 182.20 is solid. With Tilak at three and Suryakumar at 4, one got a settled front 4.

However, Gill, who primarily bats as an opener in T20Is, will now take up Samson’s place. And that’s where Samson loses his berth. There is no point of playing him at three as it pushes both Varma and SKY a place lower. Both have been successful at their respective three and 4 places.

This also means India will now need to play Jitesh Sharma as the wicketkeeper. He hasn’t looked that impressive in the 7 outings from nine matches as a batter. 

If India wouldn’t have included Gill, Samson would have kept his place and India could have also fielded Kuldeep in the XI. Now with Jitesh in there, India will sacrifice a bowler given they need the guile and experience of Dube.

Another weakness in Rinku Singh. He has been poor of late both in the IPL and for India. Since a fifty versus Bangladesh in October 2024, he has played six innings, being dismissed all six times. His best score is 30 in this period and that came off 26 balls. 

India could have picked Iyer instead as a backup middle order batter.

India have certain loopholes like Jitesh, Rinku, and also most likely they would keep Kuldeep out alongside Samson which takes away so much. 

Predicted starting XI of India

Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.

Players to watch out for

Abhishek Sharma: His impact and presence will be massive. He can set the tone in the PP overs. With Samson likely to sit out, he needs to form the balance with Gill. Abhishek will have the license to kill and he needs to grab the chance to put India on a position of comfort.

Verdict: India are likely to win the tournament

Despite the balance getting hindered with Gill’s presence which forces Samson out and also perhaps Kuldeep, India still have enough in the tank. They are the T20 World Cup winners and now under SKY, they have an able leader to get the best out. India have a top bowling attack and also desired resources with the bat to hurt sides. However, it won’t be a walk in the park as the side needs to be at its best especially in the Super 4 to reach the final.

Schedule of India in the Asia Cup 2025

10 September – India v UAE, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

14 September – India vs Pakistan, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

19 September – India vs Oman, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

All matches will start at 8:00pm IST.

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