India's Asia Cup Squad: Jitesh Sharma to Debut as Samson Misses Out; Kuldeep Yadav Omitted for UAE Clash

NEW DELHI: India will kick off their Asia Cup 2025 journey against hosts UAE on September 10 at the Dubai International Stadium, before a high-octane clash with arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14. The tournament marks India’s return to T20I cricket after a seven-month break, making their playing XI selection a major talking point.Vice-captain Shubman Gill’s comeback is expected to reshape the batting order. Gill is likely to open alongside Abhishek Sharma, while Jitesh Sharma will replace Sanju Samson as the first-choice wicketkeeper, could slot in at No. 6 or 7 depending on the team’s strategy. The middle order will feature captain Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Verma, and all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel.The addition of Rinku Singh strengthens India’s lower-order batting, while Abhishek’s part-time spin provides crucial balance.In bowling, Jasprit Bumrah and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy are near certainties. The final spot is expected to be a toss-up between left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh and spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Given Dubai’s spin-friendly surfaces, Kuldeep may have the edge, adding variety to India’s attack.India head into the tournament with a formidable record. Since the Asia Cup’s inception in 1984, they remain the most successful team across formats with eight titles to their name. Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Verma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep SinghGroup A: India, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, OmanGroup B: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Hong KongDubai International Cricket Stadium, DubaiSheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu DhabiAll matches of the Asia Cup 2025 will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network in India. Fans can also catch the live streaming on the Sony LIV app and website.India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, Rinku SinghUnited Arab Emirates: Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D'Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra, Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Saghir Khan