Is Shubman Gill the New Vice-Captain for Asia Cup 2025?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Shubman Gill returns as vice-captain for the Asia Cup.
- Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav rejoin the T20I squad.
- India's campaign begins against the UAE on September 10.
- India faces Pakistan in a crucial match on September 14.
- The tournament runs from September 9 to 28 in the UAE.
Mumbai, Aug 19 (NationPress) India’s Test captain Shubman Gill is set to make a comeback to the T20I format, having been named vice-captain for the upcoming Asia Cup in the UAE.
After last playing a T20I match in July 2024 against Sri Lanka, Gill’s return signifies India’s strategy to develop him as an all-format player following his leadership role during the England tour. Suryakumar Yadav will continue at the helm for the T20I team.
Significant names making a comeback to the squad include pace leader Jasprit Bumrah and spinner Kuldeep Yadav, both returning to the T20I team after last year’s T20 World Cup triumph in Barbados.
According to chief selector Ajit Agarkar, the standby players for India's Asia Cup squad are Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Players such as Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, and Rinku Singh have retained their spots from the five-match T20I series against England that took place earlier this year.
The Asia Cup T20I tournament, featuring eight teams, will be hosted in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from September 9 to 28. Defending champions India are placed in Group ‘A’ alongside Pakistan, Oman, and the UAE.
India’s journey will kick off against the UAE on September 10, followed by a highly anticipated clash against their archrivals Pakistan on September 14.
In preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next February, India is set to play a total of 15 T20I matches post the continental tournament.
India's squad for Asia Cup 2025: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, and Rinku Singh.
Standby: Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.