India Asia Cup 2025 Squad Announcement Live Update: Will Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal make the cut in India's squad?
Gill has already established himself as a formidable force in ODIs, accumulating 2,775 runs and 22 fifty-plus scores in 55 matches. Reports suggest he could potentially return to the T20I team as vice-captain and might be in line for ODI leadership once current captain Rohit Sharma retires.
In his most recent T20 appearance during IPL 2025, Gill demonstrated his prowess by scoring 650 runs at a strike rate of nearly 156, including six fifties in 15 matches, finishing as the fourth-highest run-getter.
Gill's T20I career has shown steady improvement. He concluded 2024 with 266 runs in eight T20Is at an average of 38.00 and a strike rate of 133, including two fifties during the Zimbabwe series. His overall T20I statistics stand at 578 runs in 21 matches at an average of 30.42 and a strike rate exceeding 139.
The scheduling complexity poses a significant challenge for selectors. The Asia Cup final concludes on September 28, with home Tests against West Indies beginning October 2. This tight schedule requires careful consideration in team selection.
India's T20I performance has been remarkable since their T20 World Cup victory, winning 17 out of 20 bilateral series. During Gill's absence, several players have strengthened their positions in the team.
Abhishek Sharma has particularly impressed, scoring 279 runs against England with a strike rate of 220, including a spectacular 135 off 54 balls at Wankhede. Since the last T20 World Cup, he has amassed 1,363 runs in 42 matches at an average of 34.94 and a strike rate exceeding 198.
Tilak Varma has also shown consistent performance, scoring 1,200 runs in 36 matches at an average of 50.00 and a strike rate of 153.84 since the last T20 World Cup. He recorded two centuries during the South Africa tour.
Sanju Samson has reinvented himself as an opener alongside Abhishek, scoring 908 runs in 31 T20s at an average of 33.62 and a strike rate of 157.09 since the last T20 World Cup.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav has contributed 1,107 runs in T20s at an average of 36.90 and a strike rate of 161.13, though his international form has declined recently.
Gill's recent T20 statistics remain impressive, with 893 runs in 22 matches at an average of 47.00 and a strike rate over 147 since the last T20 World Cup.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who like Gill last played T20I in July 2024, presents another strong candidacy with 723 runs in 23 T20Is, including a century and five fifties at a strike rate exceeding 164.
The current Samson-Abhishek opening combination makes it challenging to accommodate both Gill and Jaiswal in the playing XI. With a 15-member squad limit for the Asia Cup and World Cup, selecting all four players - Abhishek, Samson, Gill, and Jaiswal - appears unlikely, considering the need for backup players in other roles.
The final selection may come down to choosing between Jaiswal and Gill, with Samson holding an advantage as a wicketkeeper-batsman. The selectors will need to evaluate who can make a more significant impact in the upcoming tournaments.
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