Asia Cup 2025: Shubman Gill Not First Choice for India’s Squad Selection

With less than a month to go for the Asia Cup 2025, reports suggest that India’s Test captain Shubman Gill might not feature in the final squad for the marquee T20 tournament in the UAE. The team management is reportedly favouring Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson as the first-choice opening pair.

Shubman Gill Likely to Miss Asia Cup 2025 Squad

Abhishek currently holds the No. 1 spot in the ICC T20I batting rankings, while Samson has been in exceptional form in recent outings. At the crucial No. 3 position, Tilak Varma is expected to retain his place, which leaves little room to shuffle the batting order for Gill without affecting the team’s balance.

“The opening combination is looking solid at the moment, and disrupting it might not be wise,” a source told RevSportz.

Instead, Gill is likely to focus on leading the North Zone in the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025, where he has already been announced as captain.

Arshdeep Singh to Lead the Pace Attack

In terms of bowling, Arshdeep Singh is set to spearhead India’s pace attack, with Jasprit Bumrah expected to be rested for workload management ahead of a busy calendar. Arshdeep, despite travelling with the team during the England tour, did not feature in any matches, making him fresh and ready for the Asia Cup.

With 99 wickets in 63 T20I matches, Arshdeep is currently India’s leading wicket-taker in the shortest format. “He’s in peak rhythm and hungry to make an impact,” a team insider stated.

The Asia Cup 2025 kicks off on September 9, with India drawn in Group A alongside the UAE, Oman, and Pakistan. Group B features Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, and Afghanistan. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Fours, followed by the grand final on September 28.

India’s Asia Cup 2025 Schedule (Group Stage)