Wednesday, May 13
Robin Uthappa has voiced his surprise over Shreyas Iyer's omission from India's Asia Cup squad, despite Iyer's strong performances, including being the leading run-scorer in the Champions Trophy and guiding his IPL teams to successive finals. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar defended the decision, citing squad size limitations.
A social media clash erupted between Anish Giri and Peter Heine Nielsen after Giri commented on D Gukesh's drawing tendencies. Nielsen criticised Giri's view on player mentality, sparking a heated exchange where Giri referenced Carlsen's playing style and Nielsen's alleged bias. Despite the feud, Giri remains in strong form, recently finishing as runner-up in the Chennai Grand Masters 2025.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have curiously dropped out of the latest ICC ODI rankings, as Shubman Gill now leads among Indian batters. According to ICC rules, players are removed from rankings if they haven't played within a qualifying period, which is 9-12 months for ODIs.
Shubman Gill's Asia Cup vice-captaincy has ignited debate over Sanju Samson's T20 role, fueled by selection order speculation. R Ashwin criticized the management's decision, fearing Samson's exclusion. Agarkar deferred to the team management for the final XI, acknowledging both Gill and Samson's recent form, leaving Samson's place uncertain despite his performances.
Aakash Chopra has voiced his surprise over Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from the Asia Cup reserve players list, despite Iyer's impressive IPL 2025 performance where he scored 604 runs and led Punjab Kings to the final. Chopra believes this omission sends a negative signal regarding Iyer's T20I future.
Aaditya Thackeray has penned a letter to the union sports minister, questioning BCCI's decision to play against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, citing national interest concerns. He highlighted past Pakistan-based terrorist attacks in India and questioned if BCCI prioritises financial gains over the sacrifices of soldiers and victims. The Asia Cup, featuring India-Pakistan matches, is scheduled in Dubai.
Former Indian cricketer Madan Lal voiced his surprise over Yashasvi Jaiswal's exclusion from India's Asia Cup 2025 squad, led by captain Suryakumar and vice-captain Shubman Gill. Gill's selection comes after a strong performance, while Jaiswal is named as a reserve player despite his impressive IPL 2025 form. India's campaign begins against the UAE on September 10 in Dubai.
Kagiso Rabada is sidelined from the ODI series against Australia due to an ankle injury, paving the way for Kwena Maphaka's inclusion. Meanwhile, Dewald Brevis is poised to make his ODI debut after a strong T20I performance. Temba Bavuma returns to lead the team after recovering from a hamstring injury, bolstering the squad alongside other additions.
The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee will pick India’s squad for the 2025 Asia Cup, with Abhishek Sharma's selection a near certainty. His explosive IPL seasons and international success, including topping the ICC T20I batting rankings, make him indispensable. Sharma's formidable opening partnership with Sanju Samson and consistent performances solidify his place as India's T20I spearhead.
