India Asia Cup squad press conference: What Ajit Agarkar, Surya said on shocking calls
/ Aug 19, 2025, 05:31PM IST
India's Asia Cup squad press conference brought plenty of talking points!Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and Suryakumar Yadav spoke on the surprising selections, omissions, and India's plans going forward. Here's everything you need to know from the big announcement.
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'No Chance Of Winning T20 World Cup With...': Ex-IND Selector Slams Asia Cup Team
Last Updated: Kris Srikkanth has said India will fail to defend its T20 World Cup title next year with the team selected for Asia Cup 2025. Former India selector and batter Kris Srikkanth believes India has gone 'backwards' with their Asia Cup 2025 squad selection. Soon after the Ajit Agarkar-led committee announced the squad on Tuesday, he said even if this team wins the ACC tournament, it won't be good enough to defend the T20 World Cup crown next year. Srikkanth's major apprehension was with the selections of Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Harshit Rana. Rinku is the team's designated opener since his excellent showing in IPL 2023, while Dube and Rana got into the side with consistent performances in IPL 2024. But all three were out of form in the recent 2025 edition. Srikkanth also took exception to removing Axar Patel from the team's vice-captaincy for Shubman Gill, who hadn't played any T20 cricket since 2024. 'We might win the Asia Cup with this team, but there is no chance of winning the T20 World Cup with this bunch," Srikkanth said in a video on his YouTube channel, as quoted by Sportskeeda. 'Are you going to take this team to the World Cup? Is this the preparation for the T20 World Cup, which is hardly six months away? They have gone backwards. Axar Patel has been axed from vice-captaincy. I don't know how Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube and Harshit Rana have come in. IPL is considered the main criteria for selection, but the selectors seem to have considered performances before that." Srikkanth believes that the team lacks a natural number five. In the team's last T20, Dube batted at that spot and scored 30 off 13 with India putting up 247/9. 'Who will bat at No. 5? Five has to be either Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma or Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh. Hardik Pandya usually bats at No. 5, so now, Patel Axar cannot bat at six. I can't understand how they picked Dube. Yashasvi Jaiswal have performed in international cricket and IPL as well. What does he do?" Srikkant said. India's Asia Cup campaign begins on September 10 against the UAE. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
NDTV
an hour ago
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Sunil Gavaskar Gives Blunt Verdict On Shubman Gill Becoming Vice-Captain For Asia Cup: "Cannot..."
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NDTV
an hour ago
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"What Else Can One Do?": R Ashwin Tears Into Ajit Agarkar Over Shock Selection Call
As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar announced the India squad for the Asia Cup 2025, some bizarre selection calls were made. While Shubman Gill made a return to the T20I setup, that too as a vice-captain, there was no place for young opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had arguably done everything right since being inducted into the team. Jaiswal was even India's backup opener in the T20 World Cup 2024 but is now forced to take a fresh look at his career. Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India's most tactically astute cricketers over the last decade, expressed utter shock at some of Agarkar's selection calls. In a video on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said that the fact that Jaiswal wasn't picked for the Asia Cup can now force him to reevaluate the manner in which he plays. The southpaw might start to play for himself rather than the team because of the Asia Cup setback. "As Jaiswal got a chance in Test cricket, he took it with both hands. Easily the most successful Test batter that has made debut for India in recent past. He excelled in whatever format you gave him his opportunity to play and what else can one do other than excellence? He excelled and lost his chance in that slot. "Now, he has to go back the drawing board again but I really wish him well for getting a shot at it. The point is, Jaiswal didn't lose any opportunity there was even leadership role left over from him. Then now only one more slot remaining which will be Abhishek Sharma 's spot where they have to fight each other," Ashwin said. Ashwin on Jaiswal - Just like him, my biggest fear now is that he will start thinking about his place the next time he gets a chance and won't play the brand of cricket he plays. — Priyansh (@bhhupendrajogi) August 19, 2025 The former India spinner also highlighted Jaiswal's incredible strike-rate in the shortest format, once again pointing out that the opener 'doesn't play for himself, but the team', yet he had to suffer this setback as Shubaman Gill was to be drafted into the team. "He has a strike rate of 165 in this format as well. It is very difficult to find someone like Jaiswal because he doesn't play for himself sometimes. I have seen many such batters who don't even play themselves and Shreyas too. They do not play on their own, the ball is there to hit they will take that chance. For average players it's less but more so when it comes down to strike rates or scoring goals. Such brand players took quite some time to get into India.
