Finally, it’s selection day. If the selectors pick a 17-member squad, and they certainly can going by ACC rules, all debates can be put to rest. Almost all the players who deserve a look in will make it to the squad, and there will be no heartburn. On the contrary, if it is a 15-member squad that is picked, things could get heated and some deserving players will have to miss out. And the only thing that will decide this is the approach the selectors opt to take. Will the committee and the team management opt for continuity, or will they decide to pick some players on the basis of potential?
The fact is neither option is wrong. Going by continuity, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma make the top three, and there can’t be anyone else breaking in based on how the team has performed in the last 12 months. If the selectors decide to go by potential, both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill could make it, with Gill even batting at the No. 3 position. If that’s the case, Shreyas Iyer should also be discussed as a possible No. 3 option. In conditions that help spin, he could be a very useful batter in the line-up.
🚨India’s top three of Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma is likely to remain unchanged for the Asia Cup. Shreyas Iyer and Washington Sundar are in a middle-order battle.#AsiaCup2025 @shamik100 ✍️https://t.co/CYOackZbdV
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) August 18, 2025
In my opinion, there is no reason to disturb the top three that have done the job for you. How do you disturb them and why? How can you change Samson, Abhishek and Tilak? If any one of them fails in the Asia Cup, you can certainly make a tweak before the World Cup. But at the moment, when each one of them has performed for India, it would be deemed unfair if any changes were made.
Thereafter, it actually becomes easy. Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav should all walk in comfortably, and there won’t be much debate around any of these players. Shivam Dube is perhaps one who could lead to some discussion, but mostly the all-rounders and bowlers pick themselves. I’d be surprised if any one of the above miss out, unless there is an injury.
If Mohammed Shami, who isn’t likely to be picked, is indeed left out, it could be curtains for one of India’s best fast bowlers. While in sport, it is never say never, you don’t really see Shami making it back to the red-ball team for the home series against West Indies. Nor do I see him in the white-ball team for Australia. While he continues to play domestic cricket, his days as an India player could well be over. While this isn’t the way things should end for one of the best we have seen, that’s how sport is, and not always do things go to plan.
For the moment though, all eyes will be on Ajit Agarkar and his committee in Mumbai. Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav will also have their say, and chances are that they will push for continuity. Whoever is picked, it will be a very good side. India’s white-ball talent pool is such that any side picked will be an excellent one, and will go into the Asia Cup as overwhelming favourites.
For all updates on the Asia Cup, follow RevSportz