Asia Cup 2025: India’s Squad, Schedule, and Key Battles in the UAE Showdown

The Asia Cup 2025 cricket tournament is scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to September 28, featuring eight competing nations including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman, Hong Kong, and the hosts UAE.

India, the most successful team in Asia Cup history with eight titles, will be led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, with Shubman Gill appointed as the vice-captain. The Indian squad was finalized recently by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), with notable inclusions and some surprising exclusions.

The squad consists of dynamic batsmen like Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma—ranked among the top T20 batters globally—and a robust bowling lineup led by Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh in pace, with Varun Chakravarthy heading the spin attack. Standout players include all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, along with wicketkeepers Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma.
However, some prominent IPL performers such as Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored over 1100 combined IPL runs this season, were omitted from the main squad and placed on standby, reflecting the selectors’ confidence in a balanced team setup.

India’s campaign will commence on September 10 against hosts UAE at Dubai International Stadium. A marquee encounter with arch-rivals Pakistan is slated for September 14 in Dubai, which is expected to draw significant attention and add intensity to the group stage. The group stage will conclude with a match against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.

Played in the T20 format, this Asia Cup serves as a critical preparatory tournament ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, allowing teams to refine strategies and player combinations.

With Suryakumar Yadav's recent recovery from sports hernia surgery and the integration of Test captain Shubman Gill back into the T20 fold, India's squad selection reflects a blend of leadership, form, and future planning. The competition for slots was intense amid a deep talent pool, resulting in thoughtful decisions by selectors balancing experimentation and experience.

This edition also sees Sri Lanka defending champions from the last T20 Asia Cup in 2022, making the contest for the title particularly competitive. Fans across the region are eagerly awaiting thrilling cricket and unforgettable moments in this prestigious continental tournament.