The Indian selectors will meet in Mumbai on Tuesday (August 19) to finalise the Asia Cup squad. Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has already shared his picks, leaving out Rinku Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal, but backing Shubman Gill to be part of the squad.
“Only one between Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal can make the team. The way in which Shubman Gill approached the England series, he made it 2-2. He scored 754 runs. He also scored runs in the IPL. So I feel he should be there in the squad,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
Kaif further explained that Gill’s consistent performance in different formats makes him the better choice as an opener. “He might not make it to the playing XI, but he should be in the squad. He should be there as the back–up opener. Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill should be rewarded for their performances in the England Test series,” he added.
The former India star has also backed Siraj, who with 23 scalps, was the leading wicket-taker in the England series. Kaif believes Siraj’s efforts deserve recognition.
Kaif chose Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar in his squad. For fast bowling, he went with Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Siraj. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy were his choices as spinners. In wicketkeeping, Kaif said Jitesh Sharma could be a back–up for Sanju Samson, considering Jitesh’s strong IPL 2025 season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The Asia Cup begins on September 9, where India will play their first match on September 10 and then face Pakistan on September 14.
Mohammad Kaif’s squad: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Axar Patel (vc), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, Jitesh Sharma.
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