Asia Cup 2025: 5 Indian players to watch out for in the tournament

India have announced a strong 15-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, the Men in Blue will aim to lift yet another Asia Cup title. Placed in Group A, they will face Pakistan, Oman, and the UAE in the group stage. 

However, beyond the overall squad strength, there are a few key Indian players who could play a decisive role in shaping India’s campaign.

Here are the 5 Indian players to watch out for in the Asia Cup 2025

1. Shubman Gill

Team India’s new Test skipper is back in the T20I setup, this time as the deputy to skipper Suryakumar Yadav. His inclusion has surprised many fans and has already become a debatable topic. With him named vice-captain, it seems he is a guaranteed starter, which makes it difficult to keep regular opener Sanju Samson in contention for the Playing XI.

For Gill, though, this is a big platform to re-establish himself in the shortest format for the Men in Blue. He has played 21 T20Is so far, with his last international appearance in this format coming on July 30, 2024, against Sri Lanka at Pallekele.

2. Jasprit Bumrah

The star Team India pacer recently featured in the Test series against England. However, as it was pre-decided that he would play only three out of the five Tests, Bumrah was used in just three matches. 

Although India managed to salvage a 2-2 draw in the series, they remained winless in all three Tests where Bumrah played. At The Oval, where it was a must-win clash for India, many fans expected to see Bumrah in action. But he was rested, with workload management cited as the reason..

Now, his inclusion in the 15-member T20I squad has surprised many, as most thought he would be given a longer break to stay fresh for the upcoming home Test series. However, Bumrah remains a key figure, and what he can bring to the table in the shortest format was evident during India’s 2024 T20 World Cup-winning campaign.

3. Varun Chakaravarthy

Considering the conditions in Dubai, spinners will definitely be the key to success. For India, Varun Chakaravarthy will be pivotal. Earlier this year, in Dubai itself, when India won the ICC Champions Trophy, he finished the tournament as the second-highest wicket-taker with nine wickets in three innings.

Although that was a 50-over format tournament, it still showed how well he adapted to the conditions and how lethal he looked against every opposition. Now, in the upcoming Asia Cup, opponents are once again expected to struggle against his mystery spin. 

4. Rinku Singh

This explosive middle or lower-order batter has not been in his best form over the last year. Be it in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) or in domestic tournaments, Rinku Singh has struggled to show consistency. But now, with a call-up to the Asia Cup, this will be a big opportunity for him to reinvent himself.

He is currently busy playing in the UPT20 League, where he smashed an unbeaten 108 off just 48 balls at a blistering strike rate of 225 for his team, Meerut Mavericks.

5. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya’s all-round brilliance will be key, but more than that, his fitness will be the biggest factor. Pandya is someone who provides the much-needed balance in the Indian team in the white-ball formats. Hence, all eyes will be on him, as his contributions with the bat, ball, and even in the field will be crucial for India’s success.

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