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KL Rahul last played a T20I match for India on November 10, 2022, against England, whereas Jaiswal’s last T20I appearance was against Sri Lanka in July 2024.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul are unlikely to be part of India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad. (Picture Credit: AP, AFP)
Indian Test openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal are unlikely to be part of the Men in Blue’s Asia Cup 2025 squad, which is set to be announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) next week. According to a report in news agency PTI on Monday (August 11), the selection committee won’t be too keen to tinker with the present T20I setup in which Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya form a solid top five.
“Abhishek Sharma is the world’s No. 1 T20 batter in the last ICC rankings. Sanju Samson was fantastic last season with both bat and gloves. So it will certainly be a tough call, but Shubman in current form (although in Tests) can’t be ignored. He had a good IPL also. The problem for selectors is, there are too many performers at the top of the order,” a BCCI source privy to developments told PTI.
It has been reported that “it would be very difficult to find a slot for Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan. Even KL Rahul, who is now the first-choice keeper in ODIs, is unlikely to be considered, as he doesn’t bat in the middle order.”
Jurel vs Jitesh for 2nd keeper slot
While Samson, who scored three centuries in T20Is for India last year, is all set to be first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in the Asia Cup 2025, the choice for the second keeper’s slot will be between Jitesh Sharma and Dhruv Jurel.
While Jurel was a part of the last T20 series against England in January-February 2025, Jitesh had been impressive for RCB during their IPL-winning campaign.
No Nitish Reddy
While Hardik Pandya remains India’s first-choice white-ball seam-bowling all-rounder, Nitish Kumar Reddy, who suffered injury during the five-match Test series between India and England, is unlikely to get fit in time. Shivam Dube, who made a good comeback against England, is likely to find his place in the squad.
Axar and Washington Sundar are set to be the other two spin-bowling all-rounders in the squad.
Krishna vs Rana for third seamer
Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh will lead India’s fast bowling attack in the Asia Cup 2025, but there’ll be a fight between IPL 2025 Purple Cap winner Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana for the third seamer’s role.
Likely contenders: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Tilak Verma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana/Prasidh Krishna, Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma/Dhruv Jurel.
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