Returning Bumrah for Asia Cup; Gill Aims for Vice-Captaincy Role
India's squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 is shaping up, with the competition for the third pacer spot taking centre stage. Jasprit Bumrah, confirmed as the spearhead, will lead the bowling attack, but the race for the third pace bowler spot is between Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna.
Bumrah's formidable form and leadership have made him an indispensable part of the team. Meanwhile, Harshit Rana, who played in the squad and took 15 wickets during the last season, has been picked as the third pacer despite a high economy rate of 10.18. Prasidh Krishna, who impressed with 25 wickets in the IPL 2025, was named only as a reserve, highlighting the selectors' tough choice among pacers.
Other reserve fast bowlers like Washington Sundar, an all-rounder who can bowl spin, are also in the standby list. However, for pure pace bowling spots, Harshit Rana has the edge in the main squad, while Prasidh Krishna remains the prominent standby pacer.
The Asia Cup is a key preparatory tournament for the T20 World Cup, and the squad is being carefully formulated to achieve a perfect mix of seasoned campaigners and fresh talent. The top order for the team is tight, with Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, and Hardik Pandya forming strong cores.
The spin department for the squad is likely to feature Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, with a choice still to be made between Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. The formidable form of players like Shubman Gill and many in the IPL makes it difficult for the selectors to accommodate everyone, which may mean a wait for players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal to take their turn.
Shubman Gill had a successful stint as captain and batter in the recent Test series, and he is likely to regain the vice-captaincy role for India's team. Suryakumar Yadav held the deputy's post the first time he was appointed full-time T20I captain, and his reinstatement would mean returning to the status quo.
The BCCI's Sports Science cell has been monitoring Jasprit Bumrah's fitness, and his workload management is a topic of speculation. The Asia Cup is a crucial tournament for the team, and Bumrah is deemed essential for India's team in the Asia Cup. The squad for the Asia Cup is expected to be announced by August 19 or 20.
In the last T20I series against England, Axar Patel undertook vice-captaincy duties, indicating his growing importance in the team. The Asia Cup will serve as an opportunity for the team to fine-tune their strategies and prepare for the T20 World Cup. With the competition heating up, fans eagerly await the final squad announcement.
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