Asia Cup 2025: 5-Star Indian Players Who Might Not Make It to the Squad

As the Asia Cup 2025 nears, the BCCI selectors face the tricky task of picking the Indian squad for the tournament. The Asia Cup 2025 will be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE from September 9 to 29 and will be contested in the T20 format.

Competition is fierce for all positions in the Indian team, and to choose the ideal lineup for the continental event, BCCI selectors will need to consider team balance, fitness, and current form. While the announcement of the Indian squad will be made on August 19, we take a look at five-star Indian players who might miss the Asia Cup.

Here are the 5-star Indian players who might not make it to the Asia Cup 2025 squad:

1. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill is the heir apparent to captain India in all formats in the coming years. He already leads the team in Tests, and the same might happen in ODIs as well. However, when it comes to T20Is, he may have to wait a bit with Suryakumar Yadav performing well. Gill has an impressive T20I record, scoring 578 runs in 21 games with one century, three fifties, and a strike rate of 137.27.

Gill also had an outstanding IPL for Gujarat Titans, scoring 650 runs with six fifties. The challenge, however, is that he is an opener in limited-overs cricket, and India’s T20I scene is filled with openers like Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ishan Kishan. With Samson and Abhishek performing well recently, Gill might miss the bus if the BCCI selectors opt for others.

2. Yashasvi Jaiswal

Another batter competing for an opening spot in the Indian T20I team is Yashasvi Jaiswal. The left-hander from Mumbai has 723 runs in 23 T20Is, including one century and five fifties, at a strike rate of 164.31. In IPL 2025, Jaiswal was among the top scorers, with 559 runs, six fifties, and a strike rate of 159.71.

Despite these impressive numbers, with Samson, Abhishek, and Shubman Gill also in contention, it will be difficult for Jaiswal to secure a spot in the Asia Cup squad. The only reason selectors might pick him is because he is a left-hander and can serve as a replacement for Abhishek Sharma at the top, adding aggression in the powerplays.

3. Shivam Dube

Shivam Dube has played 35 T20Is for India, scoring 531 runs and taking 13 wickets, with a strike rate of 140.10. He is notoriously strong against spinners in the middle overs. In IPL 2025, he scored 357 runs for CSK with just one fifty and had minimal impact with the ball.

With Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel in the squad for their all-round skills and finishing abilities, Dube might not get a chance in the Asia Cup 2025 squad. Considering the pitches in Dubai favor spinners and spin-bowling all-rounders, India may opt for other options instead of Dube.

4. Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer had an excellent IPL 2025 for Punjab Kings, taking them to the final. He led from the front, scoring 604 runs in 14 games with six fifties and a strike rate of 175.07. In his T20I career, Iyer has 1,104 runs in 51 games with a strike rate of 136.12, and this inconsistent strike rate was one of the reasons he was previously dropped.

However, the new Shreyas Iyer has come back with a renewed technique, and given his current form, he should ideally be included in the squad. Yet, with the presence of Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Hardik Pandya, it may be difficult for selectors to fit him into the playing XI, which could result in his exclusion from the Asia Cup 2025 squad.

5. Mohammed Siraj

Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj could be rested for the 2025 Asia Cup, making him another player who might miss the tournament. In the Test series against England, he bowled more than 185 overs and claimed 23 wickets, showing excellent form.

Siraj last played a T20I for India in 2024 against Sri Lanka and has 16 wickets in 14 T20I matches overall. With Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah forming the new-ball attack and Hardik Pandya providing support, Siraj might be overlooked for a pace-bowling spot in the Asia Cup 2025 squad.

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