Will Shreyas, Jitesh, Rinku, and Riyan Make India's Asia Cup Squad?

New Delhi, Aug 18 (NationPress) Following extensive discussions over the past week, the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar is set to convene on Tuesday to finalize India's squad for the Men's T20 Asia Cup, which will take place in the UAE from September 9-28.

The players chosen for this eight-team tournament will also be integral to the defending champions' preparations for the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup, scheduled to occur in India and Sri Lanka next year.

With India’s opening match on September 10, the attention is squarely on the prospects of Shreyas Iyer, Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh, and Riyan Parag, as IANS reports that these four players are expected to be thoroughly evaluated by the five-member selection committee.

With Suryakumar Yadav set to lead the squad after significant recovery from a hernia operation, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are likely to maintain their positions as opening batters, having featured since the home series against Bangladesh last year.

Despite a somewhat uneven IPL season — largely attributed to a side strain and facing challenges from Jofra Archer’s impressive deliveries in T20Is against England this year, Samson may still secure his spot on the team, particularly since the Indian management tends to support its core players.

Another key decision involves choosing a back-up opener, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Test captain Shubman Gill vying for that position. Although Jaiswal appears to have a stronger chance to make it to India’s Asia Cup squad, the selectors’ final decision on him versus Gill remains uncertain. It’s worth noting that India’s first Test against the West Indies is set to begin on October 2 in Ahmedabad, a mere five days after the Asia Cup final in Dubai.

With Suryakumar, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel being certain to feature in the batting lineup, it will be intriguing to see if Shreyas gets selected. His case is strengthened by his ability to hit spin, his enhanced skills against short balls, and his reliability as a middle-order batsman for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025.

Meanwhile, Jitesh is a strong contender for the reserve keeper-batter position, capable of serving as a finisher with his power-hitting and diverse shot repertoire. He had an outstanding IPL 2025 season, contributing significantly to Royal Challengers Bengaluru winning their first IPL title.

In the midst of all this, Rinku, who participated in India’s last T20I series against England in January, might miss out this time. He has been a key finisher for both India and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, his inconsistent IPL season raises questions, especially if India looks to add an all-rounder suited for the slower conditions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

With Nitish Kumar Reddy still recovering from a knee ligament injury, Riyan, Sundar, and Shivam Dube are in contention for an all-rounder role. Sundar’s off-spin and batting create an appealing option, while Dube offers a similar skill set to Nitish.

Riyan, known for his batting and handy spin bowling, was part of T20I tours to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in 2024. While he provides balance, he has yet to make a significant impact. With Axar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy leading the spin department, it will be fascinating to see if Sundar or Riyan earns the selectors' nod.

In the fast-bowling category, with Hardik, Jasprit Bumrah (if selected), and Arshdeep Singh in the mix, a decision must be made on including either Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, or Harshit Rana. Ultimately, the Asia Cup squad will provide an initial glimpse into India’s strategies for the World Cup, and the debate over player selections will undoubtedly continue until the tournament commences.