On August 19, 2025, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled its 15-member squad for the Asia Cup 2025, set to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28. Led by captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill, the team includes high-profile players like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav. However, the announcement, made during a press conference in Mumbai, was overshadowed by intense backlash over India’s scheduled match against Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai, fueled by ongoing geopolitical tensions and the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
The squad comprises 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. Notable omissions include Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal, sparking debate over selection choices, but the focus quickly shifted to the India-Pakistan clash, a high-stakes fixture in Group A alongside the UAE and Oman.