Asia Cup 2025: Shubman Gill returns as India pick almost ‘a complete’ T20 squad for the tournament

The Indian squad for Asia Cup 2025 looks nothing short of terrific—an extremely strong  side with immense depth and balance. Several changes have been made since the last  time India played England a few months ago, and many of those changes were forced due  to injuries. Now, however, this squad seems very close to full strength, if not exactly that. 

When you look at the players who have been picked and then think about the possibility of  another squad India could select, there really isn’t a huge difference, in terms of quality.  One team might look slightly stronger than the other, but overall, the gap would not be  significant. Such is the depth and breadth of talent available to India in this format of the  game. The selectors have a massive pool of options, and the luxury of depth is something  that very few cricketing nations possess at this point. 

Among the headline news in this squad is the return of Shubman Gill, who not only makes  his way back into the team but also comes in as vice-captain. That is a very shrewd  decision. The leadership responsibility is going to further his development in that aspect of  the game, sharpening his captaincy and leadership skills, which can only be beneficial for  India in the long run. Giving Gill that role is smart because it nurtures another leader within  the setup. 

One of the intriguing aspects will be figuring out where exactly Gill fits in the batting order.  At the moment, it seems like Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have nailed down their  positions as openers. In the series against England, Tilak Varma batted at number three  and played really well. That was considered a good move, as Suryakumar Yadav slotted in  naturally at number four. That combination looked balanced, and it will be worth watching  whether the team management continues with that order. 

From one perspective, Gill may fit better at number three. Slotting him in at number five  doesn’t appear ideal, and given the dynamics of the batting lineup, Suryakumar really has  to remain at four. That seems non-negotiable. Therefore, one possible arrangement could  be Gill at three, Suryakumar at four, Tilak Varma at five, and Hardik Pandya at six. That  gives the side a stable yet powerful top and middle order. 

The bowling line-up, meanwhile, almost picks itself. With Jasprit Bumrah back, India  regains its spearhead. Arshdeep Singh is another certainty, and Kuldeep Yadav must play,  coming in ahead of Ravi Bishnoi. That choice seems obvious given current form and  match-winning ability. Varun Chakaravarthy is another bowler who, for many, simply has to 

play. With him included, that makes ten players in the side who are nearly automatic  selections. 

That then leaves the final slot open to debate. Realistically, that position comes down to a  choice between Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, and Harshit Rana. The likelihood, however, is  that it is more of a straight fight between Dube and Axar. Harshit, of course, earned  attention with his dramatic entry as a concussion substitute against England. But even  with his potential, it feels like the squad already has enough bowling options covered. 

But I feel in spin-friendly conditions like Abu Dhabi, Axar Patel becomes a particularly  important option, as his skill set could play a pivotal role. He not only provides spin but  also all-round abilities, which add balance to the team. On the other hand, Shivam Dube  offers power-hitting and part-time bowling. The choice, then, becomes one between  batting depth with all-round spin versus additional finishing ability. 

Beyond that, Jitesh Sharma is also included as wicketkeeping cover. That is another astute  move. Jitesh had a terrific IPL, not just statistically but also in terms of impact. On more  than one occasion, he produced game-changing innings, stepping up in crucial moments.  For example, against the Mumbai Indians, he scored around 40 off 19 balls, swinging the  course of the match. He also had more substantial innings elsewhere in the season, but  what stood out was his ability to seize the moment and change the game’s momentum.  Having him in the squad as a standby option adds further strength. 

Looking at the overall composition, this is undeniably a very strong and exciting squad. On  paper, it will be a tough team to beat. The batting has depth, variety, and explosive power,  while the bowling unit appears complete in every way. The return of Bumrah ensures the  pace department has bite and control, while Arshdeep adds the left-arm angle. Kuldeep  Yadav brings wrist spin, and with Chakaravarthy also in the squad, there is mystery spin.  Axar Patel provides left-arm orthodox spin if needed. In other words, every base is covered. 

That balance is exactly what a selector would hope for when putting together a T20 side.  There is pace, spin, left-arm options, wrist spin, mystery spin, and versatile batting across  the order. From the perspective of squad balance, this is a job well done by the selectors. It  looks like a team capable of adjusting to different conditions and opponents while still  maintaining dominance. 

In conclusion, this Indian squad is one of strength, depth, and variety. It is built to adapt,  built to compete, and built to win. The selectors have assembled a unit that seems close to  perfect in terms of resources. With batting firepower from the top to the middle order, all-

round depth, and a bowling attack offering every possible variety, India will enter the  tournament as a formidable side. As things stand, this is about as complete a T20 squad as  one could hope to see.