SWOT analysis of the Indian squad for the Asia Cup 2025

Ajit Agarkar, chief selector, and captain Suryakumar Yadav announced India’s 15-member squad for the Asia Cup on August 19, 2025. The team is around the expected squad, but there will be a conversation about Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion. Agarkar explained the team wasn’t left out of the squad because of his form, but due to competition for places.

The best news is that Jasprit Bumrah is back, the most crucial player to return to India’s bowling attack. Another interesting development in the squad announcement is the change of vice-captaincy. Shubman Gill has replaced Axar Patel, further adding to the uncertainty in this position. Gill’s rise indicates that India’s selectors have confidence in him as a long-term leader.

Gill as vice-captain means that there will be someone left out of the top order, and all indications suggest that it would be Sanju Samson. India will be intent on winning the Asia Cup with this squad, and the target will be to compete on September 14 against Pakistan in Dubai, which could be a table-pitched match in the Super 4s, and possibly a final.

Strengths of Indian Team

India’s batting line-up for the Asia Cup looks utterly menacing. Whether it’s Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, or Sanju Samson at the top, that top order will always be explosive. With Tilak Varma at 3 and the unpredictable Suryakumar Yadav at 4.

Their middle-order runs even deeper with Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, both powerful hitters, and some finishers – Rinku Singh or Shivam Dube. If Jitesh Sharma is playing instead of Samson, he adds another dangerous option lower down. The batting line-up has so much depth that with any of them at 7 or 8, they could be a match-winner.

Their bowling unit is just as talented. With Dubai hosting the games, Varun Chakravarthy will be a big asset after his Champions Trophy tournament earlier this year. At the same time, we have a class pace-unit, with the world-class duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. Now firmly established as India’s first-choice T20 duo since 2024. Together, they certainly have both batting and bowling to win the Asia Cup.

Weaknesses or Concerns

There is no such thing as weakness in this Indian squad. Only a few little things that might trouble the team during the tournament.

Since assuming captaincy, Suryakumar Yadav’s batting has nosedived. In 22 innings, he’s only scored 558 runs at an average of 26.57, with one hundred and four fifties – a staggering drop from his numbers before captaincy. Previously, in 61 innings without captaincy pressure, he scored 2,040 runs at 43.40, including 3 hundreds and 17 fifties. Despite having a decent record as captain, it looks like the weight of captaincy blunts his batting. It is unfortunate for a team that was previously excited about their most reliable T20 run-scorer.

The second concern that comes to my mind is playing spin. We’ve seen a lot in recent times that India finds it difficult to score runs against spin as they did against pace. The run-rate suddenly dips as soon as the spinner comes into the game. Afghanistan, having 2-3 quality spinners, will test India’s batting talent and depth. It would be good to see who will take on the spinners during the middle overs in the absence of Shreyas.

Opportunities for India

The Asia Cup presents an ideal stage for players like Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh, and Shivam Dube to make their case for next year’s T20 World Cup. In addition, Shubman Gill’s return after a year of absence is another storyline. If he performs, then the probability of his being made India’s all-format captain after the home World Cup next year is almost a foregone conclusion.

For others, the stakes are defining. Kuldeep Yadav, if given a chance, can establish himself for the ambitious BCCI’s long-term plan. It’ not that he has anything to prove, just an opportunity is no one’s enemy; he could resurrect himself. Meanwhile, Varun Chakaravarthy has the chance to step up as India’s No. 1 white-ball spinner, seizing a long-term claim in conditions that favour his art.

Threats from Opponents

Their line-up is full of stroke players who can clear boundaries at will. The primary question is whether they have batters that can adapt to slow, low pitches. On slow pitches, rotating the strike and getting runs becomes as important as hitting boundaries.

Virat Kohli was able to read conditions and adapt his game, while Shreyas Iyer is India’s best player of spin. Now, without Kohli, having retired from T20s, and Iyer not even being a standby, India will start the Asia Cup without two of their best anchors against teams that predominantly bowl spin.

The conditions in the UAE also play into the hands of Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, who have great spin options, and even the hosts, the UAE, boast good quality spinners. While the T20 format has a way of leveling the playing field, these factors could give formidable rivals a better opportunity to halt India’s juggernaut.