“Jasprit Bumrah’s availability will be a question” - Aakash Chopra on India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad

Former Indian cricketer and analyst Aakash Chopra has opened up on the Indian team’s combination for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 campaign, scheduled to start in September in the United Arab Emirates.

While India will be the hosts for the upcoming edition, the tournament will be played in UAE, citing the geopolitical situation with India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Interestingly, India and Pakistan will lock horns in the group stage game, having been placed in the same group.

While Group A in the Asia Cup 2025 features India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, Group B has teams namely Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. If India and Pakistan make it to the Super Four stage, chances are likely that they will clash against each other for the second time.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra stated that there will be a question mark on Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the campaign. However, with Bumrah being rested for the fifth Test against England, Chopra is optimistic about Bumrah’s selection for the Asia Cup campaign. 

"Bumrah, once again, availability will be a question. However, if he is available, because if he doesn't play the fifth Test as well, then he should be playing the Asia Cup, is what I am thinking. It will be interesting to see what sort of team is picked, but it cannot be too dissimilar to the one that was picked last time," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Furthermore, Chopra feels that the Indian seamer Mohammed Shami might not make it to the squad for the Asia Cup competition owing to his poor fitness. Interestingly, he didn’t make it to the Test squad after the medical team deemed that the pacer can’t bowl long spells.

"I can almost guarantee that Mohammad Shami won't be there because Shami was only being played to test his fitness and prepare him for the Champions Trophy. Now that the bus has sailed, and if he is not part of Tests, I don't see him playing T20 cricket at this point in time," he added

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