The Asia Cup 2025 will begin on September 9 in Dubai, and the Indian squad for the tournament has already been announced. Interestingly, the Indian team has not played any T20 Internationals since February 2025, which led many experts to believe that a preparatory camp would be held. However, a new update has clarified the situation, including details of India’s itinerary.
Table of Contents
When will India Fly to Dubai?
As per recent reports, Team India will leave for Dubai on September 4 or 5. It has also been confirmed that no training camp will be held before the tournament. Since all the players have recently played in the IPL, the selectors are confident about their match fitness. This Asia Cup will also be the first step in preparation for the T20 World Cup 2026, giving players a chance to strengthen their claim. Especially the India-Pakistan match will be the platform where many players will want to prove their talent.
India’s Matches in the Asia Cup
India’s campaign will begin against the United Arab Emirates on September 10. However, the biggest match of the group stage will be on September 14, when India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium. The Indian team will then take on Oman on September 19 for their last group match. Fans will also be eager to see Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah playing for India after a long gap.
India Squad for Asia Cup 2025: Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, and Rinku Singh.
Standbyes: Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Riyan Parag.
Also Read: Top 5 Champagne Brunches in Dubai to Sparkle Up Your Weekend
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced Team India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. Shubman Gill has returned to the T20 squad and has also been named the vice-captain, while Sanju Samson has also found a place in the squad. However, the big question is who among these will open the innings with Abhishek Sharma.
Who will Open for India?
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, while announcing the squad, indicated that Gill is the best option. He clarified that Samson was used as an opener only in Gill’s absence. This makes it clear that the team management is likely to keep the Abhishek-Gill pair at the top of the order. Nevertheless, a look at their T20 international stats paints an interesting picture.
Shubman Gill’s T20 Record
Shubman Gill has scored 578 runs in 21 T20 internationals at an average of 30.42 and a strike rate of 139.27. He has one century and three half-centuries to his name. In the IPL, he has performed consistently well and has scored 3,866 runs in 115 innings at an average of 39.44 and a strike rate of 138.71. Although his ability to carry the innings has been proven, his strike rate in the T20 format has often been questioned.
Sanju Samson’s T20 Record
On the other hand, Sanju Samson has performed well in the T20 format for a long time. He has played 42 T20 Internationals so far, scoring 861 runs with three centuries and two half-centuries. More importantly, Samson has maintained a strong strike rate of 152.38, although he averages 25.32. Significantly, all three centuries have come while opening the innings, which shows his effectiveness at the top of the order.