Gill, Siraj likely to miss out on Asia Cup squad

By Admin

18 Aug, 2025

As the Indian selectors prepare to meet in Mumbai on Tuesday (August 19) to finalize the squad for the upcoming Asia Cup (September 9–28), speculations are running high. While conventional wisdom suggests that the standout performers from the recent England tour should be automatic picks, reports indicate that both Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj may find themselves on the wrong side of selection decisions.

Gill’s Case: Runs in Tests, Doubts in T20s

Shubman Gill’s numbers from the England tour were phenomenal. With over 750 runs in the series, Gill stood second only to the great Sunil Gavaskar in terms of aggregate runs in a bilateral Test series. His dominance continued in the IPL, where he amassed 650 runs as an opener. Yet, despite these achievements, Gill’s place in the Asia Cup squad remains uncertain.

The key factor working against him is format specificity. While Gill thrived in five-day Tests and as an opener in the IPL, the Asia Cup will be a high-intensity T20I competition. The selectors are inclined to back the current opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. For the reserve opener’s role, Yashasvi Jaiswal appears to have the edge over Gill. Unless someone like Gautam Gambhir strongly advocates for him, Gill may face disappointment.

The Batting Mix

The likely batting lineup beyond the openers includes Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rinku Singh. Another slot is still up for grabs, with Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar competing for it. Shreyas Iyer, who impressed while leading IPL finalists Punjab Kings, may still miss the cut. Meanwhile, Jitesh Sharma is expected to secure the second wicketkeeper’s spot alongside Sanju Samson.

Siraj’s Struggle Despite Heroics

Mohammed Siraj, India’s pace spearhead in the recent England series and the highest wicket-taker of the Anderson-Tendulkar series, may also be left out. His spirited spells earned him admiration across the cricketing fraternity, but the selectors are prioritizing proven T20 specialists. With Jasprit Bumrah leading the attack, the pace unit is likely to feature Arshdeep Singh and one or both of Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana. Hardik Pandya, who delivered under pressure in the T20 World Cup final, will provide all-round depth.

Veteran seamer Mohammed Shami, who last featured against England in a T20I, is also expected to be overlooked.

Spin Department

The spin attack seems relatively settled. Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, and vice-captain Axar Patel are all expected to be included. Washington Sundar, who was part of the February T20I squad, could also return, though his selection is not guaranteed.

A Selection Balancing Act

The Asia Cup squad selection is shaping up to be a fine balancing act between form, format relevance, and team dynamics. While Gill and Siraj’s exclusion would be surprising given their recent exploits, the selectors appear intent on building a side tailored for the shortest format. With competition for spots fierce, big names might just have to wait their turn.