India’s Test captain Shubman Gill has been appointed as the vice-captain of the national T20 side for the upcoming ACC Men’s Asia Cup T20 2025, while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah makes a much-awaited comeback. The 15-member squad, led by Suryakumar Yadav, was announced on Tuesday, August 19, by chief selector Ajit Agarkar following discussions at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai.
The Asia Cup T20 2025 will be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28, marking India’s return to T20I action since their home series against England in January.
India’s Asia Cup T20 2025 Fixtures
The Men in Blue begin their campaign against hosts UAE in Dubai on September 10, followed by a blockbuster India vs Pakistan clash on September 14 at the same venue. The final group-stage match will be against Oman in Abu Dhabi on September 19.
Shubman Gill as Vice-Captain
Gill’s elevation as vice-captain comes at the expense of Axar Patel, who has lost his role as deputy. His promotion also indicates a strong possibility of him opening the innings, although Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma remain viable options. Gill’s fine form in international cricket in recent months has strengthened his leadership credentials, making him an obvious choice for the role.
Key Selections and Exclusions
The selection committee made some bold calls to strike a balance between continuity and experimentation.
- Sanju Samson will be the first-choice wicketkeeper, while Jitesh Sharma—who impressed as a finisher during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 title run—was picked as the back-up keeper over Dhruv Jurel.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer were the notable omissions.
- Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube strengthen the squad as pace-bowling all-rounders, offering depth in both batting and bowling.
- Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, and Abhishek Sharma ensure an explosive middle order alongside captain Suryakumar.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Return
The biggest boost for India is the return of Jasprit Bumrah, who will spearhead the pace attack alongside Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh. Bumrah’s comeback adds much-needed experience and control to the bowling lineup.
Spin Department
In the spin unit, selectors have opted for Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel. While Washington Sundar missed out again, the combination of Kuldeep’s consistency and Varun’s mystery spin is expected to be key, especially in the latter stages of the tournament when UAE pitches may begin to assist spinners.
ASIA CUP T20 2025 INDIA SQUAD
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Stand-bys: Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal
The Asia Cup T20 2025 will be India’s key preparation ground ahead of the T20 World Cup next year. With Shubman Gill appointed vice-captain, Jasprit Bumrah returning to lead the bowling attack, and Suryakumar Yadav continuing as captain, the team looks balanced with a mix of youth and experience. Fans can expect high-octane clashes, especially the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan encounter in Dubai on September 14.
