The announcement of India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup has led to some polarised reactions, as is usually the case whenever any team is announced for the country leading up to a tournament or series. Most of the criticism is centered around the fact that Shreyas Iyer hasn’t been included despite scoring 604 runs at a strike rate of 175.07 in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). However, there has also been a sense that the squad India have picked is briming with talent anyhow and former World Cup-winner Madan Lal has said that he feels they will win the Asia Cup.
The former all-rounder, who was part of the team that won the 1983 World Cup, admitted that he is surprised by the ommission of Yashasvi Jaiswal but is happy that Shubman Gill has been selected. “Sometimes you feel surprised that a player like Yashasvi Jaiswal is not in the team,” Lal told ANI. “Gill is a good choice as he is performing well. In the coming time, it is possible that Gill will play in all three formats… The players who make the team win a match must not be left out. We have such a good team that we may win the Asia Cup.”
It’s no fault of his, neither ours
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said that Iyer is not at fault at all for missing the bus. “It’s unfortunate that Shreyas Iyer misses out. It’s no fault of his, neither ours. He has to wait for his chance,” chief selector Ajit Agarkar said. “We have got some serious options in T20 squad…sometimes not the easiest squad to pick but good headache to have,” he added. Along with the main squad of 15, the selectors also named 5 players as standbys but Iyer’s name wasn’t in that list as well.
However, Agarkar said that this was not the final team for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. Iyer walloped over 600 runs for the first time in an IPL season in 2025, with his 175.07 strike rate ranking the best among all batters. He also clobbered 39 sixes as Punjab finished runners-up under his leadership. For India in 51 T20Is, the Mumbaikar has recorded 1104 runs, averaging 30.66.
