India's Asia Cup 2025 squad has become a hot topic of debate with selections and omissions stirring plenty of conversation ahead of a big year. With the T20 World Cup set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka early next year, the Asia Cup in the UAE is being viewed as an important build-up.
But not everyone is convinced the current group is the right one to defend the crown.
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Krishnamachari Srikkanth slams India's Asia Cup 2025 squad
Former India opener and 1983 World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth offered a blunt assessment of the squad on his YouTube channel. While he acknowledged India might be good enough to win the Asia Cup, he didn't see this team lifting the T20 World Cup next year.
"We might win the Asia Cup with this team, but there is no chance of winning the T20 World Cup with this bunch. Are you going to take this team to the World Cup? Is this the preparation for the T20 World Cup, which is hardly six months away?" Srikkanth said.
He also expressed surprise at some of the selections. "They have gone backwards. Axar Patel has been axed from vice-captaincy. I don't know how Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube and Harshit Rana have come in. The IPL is considered the main criterion for selection but the selectors seem to have considered performances before that," he added.
The former chief selector also questioned the batting balance. He pointed out that India still doesn't have clarity on the No. 5 spot - usually occupied by Hardik Pandya. In his view, options like Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh or Shivam Dube haven't made their place in that role.
Srikkanth also noted Yashasvi Jaiswal's absence despite his consistent IPL and international runs while wondering how Dube had edged ahead.
Selectors insist World Cup plans aren't final
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar stressed that this is not India's final squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. He confirmed that workload management played a role in Jasprit Bumrah's selection while explaining that Jaiswal remains on standby.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav backed the depth in the squad. "We have lovely players around with amazing skills which makes my job easier," he said.
The Asia Cup may provide answers but the World Cup challenge will demand even sharper clarity on roles and combinations.