Former Indian star opener Virender Sehwag came out with a straight-forward answer when asked about Team India's chances of lifting the Asia Cup 2025 trophy.
I have no doubt India can lift the Asia Cup trophy: Virender Sehwag
Sehwag openly stated that India have a solid chance of winning the Asia Cup 2025 title. Sehwag believes that India's success will be driven by the 'fearless captaincy' of Suryakumar Yadav, whose aggressive mindset is perfectly suited for the T20 format. He emphasized that the combination of youth and experience in the squad, coupled with Yadav's leadership, can lead India to dominate the tournament once again.
“This Indian team has the right mix of youth and experience, and under Surya’s fearless leadership, they can dominate Asia once again. His attacking mindset suits the T20 format perfectly, and if the team plays with the same intent, I have no doubt India can lift the trophy,” Sehwag said in Sony Sports Network's 'RagRagMeinBharat' campaign for Asia Cup 2025.
The 15-member Indian squad will be led by Suryakumar Yadav, with Test captain Shubman Gill serving as his deputy.
India's Asia Cup squad underwent several changes from the team that won the T20 World Cup 2024. These adjustments include the return of some key players, which is expected to bolster the side's strength significantly. One of the most anticipated comebacks is that of pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who will be playing his first white-ball tournament since the 2024 T20 World Cup. Bumrah was rested from limited-overs assignments and also missed the ICC Champions Trophy due to an injury, making his return a major boost for the team.
The selection committee has shown strong faith in a new generation of batters by including Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Rinku Singh, all of whom have had standout performances over the past year. This trio of exciting young talent will be complemented by the experience of captain Suryakumar. The squad also sees the return of Shubman Gill, who last played a T20I for India more than a year ago. In the wicketkeeping department, Sanju Samson is set to take on the role of first-choice keeper, building on his successful opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma over the last twelve months. Jitesh Sharma will serve as the backup option, with both players rejoining the T20I squad after a long absence.
India's all-rounder department remains a core strength, with Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel continuing in their key roles. Both players were instrumental in the team's T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy victories, providing crucial contributions with both bat and ball. They will be joined by Shivam Dube, who further strengthens the team's balance and depth.
The bowling attack will be led by the returning Jasprit Bumrah, who will spearhead the pace unit. He will be supported by Arshdeep Singh, the 2024 ICC Men's T20I Player of the Year, and Harshit Rana. In the spin department, Varun Chakravarthy takes charge following his stellar performances in the UAE during the Champions Trophy. He will be complemented by Kuldeep Yadav, who is making his first T20I appearance since the 2024 World Cup final. India is set to begin its Asia Cup campaign on September 10 against the UAE.
India's Asia Cup squad:
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 Singh
Reserves: Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal