Asia Cup 2025: Predicting India's strongest Playing XI

Team India are all set for the Asia Cup 2025 with a strong 15-member squad announced. Looking at the possible playing XI, it is expected that Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill will open the innings. Gill, who returns to the T20I setup after more than a year, has been named the vice-captain and is certain to start.

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At number three, Tilak Varma has secured his place with consistent and impressive performances. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav will follow at number four. The middle order will then see two experienced all-rounders — Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel — providing both stability and firepower. Alongside them, Shivam Dube is expected to feature, strengthening the batting depth and offering an additional bowling option.

With Gill’s return, Sanju Samson looks unlikely to start. His limited success in the middle order works against him, and the management might prefer Jitesh Sharma as the wicketkeeper-batter. Jitesh is more suited to a finisher’s role, capable of scoring quick runs in the latter stages.

In the bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh are expected to be the first-choice pacers, offering a right-arm and left-arm combination. Harshit Rana’s variations, especially slower ones, might be effective in the Dubai conditions. But, the management is most likely to back the Bumrah-Arshdeep pair.  

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Among spinners, Varun Chakaravarthy is set to feature alongside Axar Patel. Though Kuldeep Yadav is also part of the squad, the management might prefer Axar ahead of him due to his batting ability, and India are unlikely to go with three specialist spinners in Dubai. 

This gives India two specialist spinners, two frontline pacers, and multiple all-rounders — Pandya, Dube, and Abhishek Sharma — who can chip in with the ball on the slow tracks in Dubai.

This predicted XI provides a balanced look with batting depth until number eight and a variety of bowling options. With such flexibility, Suryakumar Yadav will have several choices both with the bat and ball, making India one of the strong favourites to clinch the tournament.

India’s predicted strongest playing XI for the Asia Cup 2025

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Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (vc), Tilak Varma, Surya Kumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.

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