India enters Asia Cup 2025 with a bold approach under captain Suryakumar Yadav, focusing on aggressive cricket and a new-look top order. The tournament will run from September 9 to 28 in the UAE, and India will face UAE, Pakistan, and Oman in the group stage.
India Asia Cup 2025 Squad (Confirmed)
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Batters | Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh |
| All-Rounders | Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma |
| Bowlers | Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy |
India Probable Playing 11 for Asia Cup 2025
India’s most likely Playing XI features Sanju Samson as the wicketkeeper and opener, with Shubman Gill moving to No. 3 for added stability.
| Position | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanju Samson (wk) | Aggressive opener & wicketkeeper |
| 2 | Abhishek Sharma | Left-hand opener, powerplay hitter |
| 3 | Shubman Gill (vc) | Anchor, consolidates top order |
| 4 | Suryakumar Yadav (c) | Captain, middle-order aggressor |
| 5 | Rinku Singh | Finisher, power-hitter |
| 6 | Hardik Pandya | All-rounder, key finisher |
| 7 | Axar Patel | Spin-bowling all-rounder |
| 8 | Kuldeep Yadav | Lead wrist-spinner |
| 9 | Arshdeep Singh | Left-arm swing option |
| 10 | Harshit Rana / Backup | Extra pace option if needed |
| 11 | Jasprit Bumrah | Strike bowler, death overs specialist |
Highlights & Strategy
1. Opening Pair: Samson & Abhishek
India is likely to open with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, forming an explosive left-right combination. Samson, who has played 42 T20 matches, scored 861 runs at impressive strike rate of 152.39.
Abhishek Sharma, on the other hand, is India’s powerplay enforcer. In 17 T20 matches, he has scored 535 runs at a blistering strike rate of 193.85, making him one of the most dangerous hitters in the first six overs.
This allows Shubman Gill to slot in comfortably at No. 3. Gill has featured in 21 T20 matches, amassing 578 runs at a solid strike rate of 139.28, making him the ideal anchor who can stabilize or accelerate as per the game situation.
2. SKY & Rinku in Middle Order
Suryakumar Yadav will take control in the middle overs with his 360-degree stroke play. Rinku Singh provides the perfect finisher’s touch in the last 5 overs.
3. All-Round Depth
With Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, India has batting depth till No. 7 and additional bowling options, crucial on slow UAE pitches.
4. Spin-Friendly Approach
Kuldeep Yadav will be the main spinner, supported by Axar. If needed, Varun Chakravarthy could be included for mystery spin on rank turners.
5. Bumrah-Led Pace Attack
The pace unit will revolve around Jasprit Bumrah, with Arshdeep Singh’s swing and Harshit Rana’s pace complementing him. This trio provides variety and wicket-taking ability across phases.
India’s Asia Cup 2025 Group Stage Fixtures
- September 10: India vs UAE – Dubai
- September 14: India vs Pakistan – Dubai
- September 19: India vs Oman – Abu Dhabi
If India qualifies, they will play Super Four matches starting September 20, with the final scheduled for September 28 in Dubai.
Read more: How Many Times Has India Won the Asia Cup?
India’s probable playing XI for Asia Cup 2025 reflects an aggressive approach with Samson-Abhishek as openers and Gill-SKY handling the middle order. This batting order, combined with a balanced bowling attack and Bumrah’s leadership in pace, makes India one of the strongest contenders for the trophy.
