Harbhajan Singh picks his India squad for Asia Cup 2025: Rishabh Pant included as Sanju Samson misses out

Ritabrata_Banerjee

Harbhajan Singh picks his India squad for Asia Cup 2025: Rishabh Pant included as Sanju Samson misses out  image

The Indian selection committee, led by the chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, is set to meet on Tuesday, August 19. Soon after, they will also announce the T20I squad for the upcoming Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

For the competition, which will be played from September 9 to 28, most of the squad includes players who are certain to be selected, such as Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson and Varun Chakravarthy.

However, KKR star Rinku Singh's hot and cold form and Shreyas Iyer's resurgence after a magnificent season as the Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain have reportedly become major points of discussion for an open spot in the squad.

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India Test captain Shubman Gill, who had a terrific tour of England recently, is also not a hundred per cent sure, as the form of Abhishek Sharma and wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson as India's openers since 2024 has been exceptional. 

Amid speculation over India's T20 squad for the Asia Cup, legendary Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh named his choice of players, who should travel to UAE next month.

READ: Four-way battle between Iyer, Rinku, Riyan and Sundar for Asia Cup?

What did Harbhajan Singh say?

Speaking to TOI, Singh said: "I think the squad should be Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav – the captain, Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag for the middle order, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant."

While Singh decided to include Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the squad, the most surprising pick was that of Rishabh Pant, who is still recovering from the leg injury that he suffered in the England tour and might regain full fitness ahead of the Asia Cup.

In-form wicket-keeper Samson, on the other hand, was a notable absentee from the squad, along with talented middle-order batsman Tilak Varma from MI.

MORE: Gill, Siraj likely to miss Asia Cup squad

What is Harbhajan Singh's India squad for the Asia Cup 2025?

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah.

Ritabrata_Banerjee

Ritabrata is a content producer for The Sporting News' India edition