Mumbai, Aug 20: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Tuesday, August 19, a 15-member squad for the upcoming ACC Men’s Asia Cup T20. The team will be led by star batsman Suryakumar Yadav, with Test captain Shubman Gill stepping into the role of vice-captain. The squad sees the return of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who is expected to bolster India’s bowling attack. The selectors’ focus was on maintaining continuity and balance within the team that has performed well under Suryakumar’s leadership.
Key Selections and Squad Balance
In a key decision, Sanju Samson has been named the first-choice wicketkeeper. The competition for the second wicketkeeper slot was a tight one, with Jitesh Sharma ultimately getting the nod ahead of Dhruv Jurel. Jitesh’s selection was reportedly influenced by his strong performance as a finisher for Royal Challengers Bengaluru during their title-winning campaign in IPL 2025.
Tournament Schedule
The ACC Men’s Asia Cup T20 is scheduled to be held in the UAE from September 9 to September 28. India will kick off its campaign against the hosts, UAE, in Dubai on September 10. This will be followed by a highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14, also to be played in Dubai. The final group-stage match for India will be against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.
The selectors expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to perform well and contend for the title, citing the team’s recent successes and the balance of experience and youth within the 15-member group.