Asia Cup 2025: Predicting India's strongest playing XI

The BCCI chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, in the presence of India T20I captain Suryakumar, announced the Men in Blue's 15-member squad for the Asia Cup on August 19, 2025. The biggest shock was the inclusion of Shubman Gill in the team, and that too, as the vice-captain of the T20I squad.

Jitesh Sharma was chosen as the second wicket-keeper behind Sanju Samson, but Agarkar also clarified that Sanju Samson only opened the innings for India as Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal were not available. While usual suspects were chosen, Harshit Rana’s inclusion over Prasidh Krishna also raised eyebrows, as did the exclusions of Shreyas Iyer, Mohammed Siraj, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

But keeping in mind the chosen 15-man Indian squad, let’s have a look at the best possible India playing XI combination for the Asia Cup 2025 challenge.

Here is the predicted India strongest XI for the Asia Cup 2025:

Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill are most likely to open for India in the Asia Cup. Abhishek Sharma has shown great talent for risk and reward in powerplay, while Shubman Gill has scored at a rate of 155 in IPL while opening the innings. It will be a toss-up between Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma for the no. 3 spot.

Samson, who opened for India in 2024-25, hit three centuries in one year and has had a great run at the top, despite inconsistent batting. On the other hand, Tilak Varma has done very well at the position since Suryakumar Yadav moved to the no. 4 spot to let Tilak thrive, and he responded with two centuries in South Africa.

Meanwhile Suryakumar Yadav will continue to bat at no. 4 and shoulder the middle order, followed by Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel. If Tilak Varma is chosen at the no. 3 spot, Jitesh Sharma could be the wicketkeeper choice and bat at no. 6 or 7 to play the finisher’s role. He did the same role brilliantly for RCB in their IPL 2025 winning run.

Pandya and Axar give India the big-hitting prowess in death overs and can also stabilize the innings if early wickets fall. Plus, Pandya’s medium-pace bowling makes him the third pacer option, while Axar Patel is capable of bowling with the new ball upfront or keeping opposition batters mum in middle overs.

Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, both or one of them, will play in the XI, giving India that extra X-factor against other teams. It is likely that both of them might play to strengthen India’s bowling.

Coming to the pace department, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh are likely to be the first-choice pacers. Harshit Rana might be chosen as the third pacer if India decides to play only one of Kuldeep or Varun in the XI.

Predicted India Strongest XI for the Asia Cup 2025:

Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (VC), Tilak Varma/Sanju Samson (WK), Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.

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