India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad has sparked major debate even before it becomes official. Reports say the selection committee has already picked 14 players, but one spot is still open. Four names are being considered for this final place—Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, and Riyan Parag.
The choice could be very important, not just for the Asia Cup but also for India’s preparation for the T20 World Cup. The Ajit Agarkar-led committee will meet in Mumbai on Tuesday, with T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav also expected to join the talks.
Batting Edge: Iyer vs Rinku
According to reports, the selectors are leaning towards choosing Shreyas Iyer over Rinku Singh. Shreyas Iyer is trusted due to his leadership skills, spin-playing talent, and ability to remain composed under pressure. He also played a key role in India’s Champions Trophy victory in February 2025. His IPL performances support his argument, he guided two different teams to the Champions League game in consecutive seasons and even won the 2024 championship with the Kolkata Knight Riders.
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Rinku Singh, on the other hand, might fall short this time. Despite being a popular big-hitter, selectors see him more as part of India’s wider T20 pool rather than a main option for a big tournament like the Asia Cup.
Gambhir’s All-Rounder Preference
The twist comes from Gautam Gambhir, India’s new head coach. Gambhir has worked with Iyer at KKR and knows his strengths very well. But his recent choices suggest he prefers all-rounders who can contribute with both bat and ball.
In the England Test series earlier this year, Gambhir supported players like Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Ravindra Jadeja, all of whom brought balance to the team. Because of this approach, Sundar or even Riyan Parag may be considered for the Asia Cup spot.
Final Call
Even with Gambhir’s liking for all-rounders, reports indicate that Iyer remains the top choice. His experience in Asian conditions and his reliability in the middle order give him an upper hand.
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Rinku and Parag are seen as exciting options for the future, but they may have to wait for the bilateral series to get their chance. Sundar is also likely to stay in the wider pool, even if he doesn’t make the Asia Cup squad.
What It Means for Team India?
This debate over the final spot in India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad shows a bigger question – should India rely on experience or take a risk with balance? If Iyer is picked, the team will have a dependable middle-order batter.
But if Gautam Gambhir’s influence wins out, the squad may go for an extra all-rounder. Either way, the last name added to the list will give a strong hint of how India is planning its T20 approach ahead of the World Cup.
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