Fitting an outstanding batter like Shubman Gill into India’s well-settled T20 unit is likely to be the biggest challenge for the national selectors as they meet on Tuesday to finalise the 15-member squad for the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE. According to reports, India’s Test captain Gill could struggle to secure an opening slot in the side for the tournament, which starts from September 9 to 28.
For Ajit Agarkar, who is the current chairman of the Senior Men’s Selection Committee for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and his colleagues, the major point of deliberation will be how to improve something that does not necessarily need to be changed. Reports by the Indian Express suggest that the team management wants to stick to players whom they have backed post the 2024 T20 World Cup.
For Indian selectors, choosing the national T20 squad is always a daunting task, a dilemma that quickly becomes a nationwide discussion. This year offers them no relaxation as the country’s deep T20 talent pool presents a ‘scary’ yet welcoming challenge for the board of selectors. With at least 30 players capable of national squad selection, each position boasts three to four strong contenders. The top three batting spots alone feature six cricketers with comparable records and history.
Three of the 6 contenders to form the top of India’s batting lineup include Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma, who all performed exceptionally well in national colours last season. The other three include Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and IPL Orange Cap winner Sai Sudharsan, who remain equally strong and more popular contenders for the position.
Buzz around Gill
One of the selectors told The Indian Express that he feels that it would be unfair to anyone who has been a first XI regular during the past season to be deprived to accommodate a bigger brand name or star. The official further went on to state that the other school of thought that’s been popular with the selectors is that Indian cricket has historically worked well with one all-format captain who then also becomes the next big marketing brand — in this case, Gill, who is an obvious choice for a lot of stakeholders going forward.
With his success in the red ball format, the buzz had risen to make him the all-format captain of the Indian team. However, selectors are not jumping the gun after the England success and have decided to carry on with their old captain, Suryakumar Yadav, who is yet to lose a series in his leadership stint.
Under Suryakumar Yadav’s able leadership, the Indian T20 squad has a phenomenal 85 per cent record, winning 17 of its last 20 games. None of these games featured Gill and Jaiswal. But there’s a catch, too. Before Gill and Jaiswal became busy with Test commitments in the past year, they were playing T20 Internationals and were doing well, including impressive IPLs.
In the IPL, Gill was the fourth-highest run getter after Sai Sudharsan (759), Surya (717), and Kohli (657) with 650 runs. Shreyas (604) and Jaiswal (559) were 6th and 7th, respectively.
Choice of pacers
Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh are slated to be the top three options for the reserve seamer’s slot in the Playing XI. Amidst the extras, Harshit Rana looks to occupy the top spot as both Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj are being considered as red-ball specialists.
Considering the home test series against the West Indies scheduled to begin on October 2, it is anticipated that Bumrah may not be needed against the comparatively weaker Caribbean team, as Prasidh and Siraj will be well-rested and eager to bowl in the upcoming test.
Choice of Spinners
Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to form the three choices for India’s 15-member lineup ahead of the upcoming Asian Cup. Gambhir’s affinity for all-rounders is likely to ensure Washington Sundar’s inclusion in the lineup.