Aug 20, 2025: The most talked-about points from Ajit Agarkar and Suryakumar Yadav's press conference, where they announced the 15-member Asia Cup squad, are listed below.

India's 15-member squad for the upcoming Men's Asia Cup has been unveiled. Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav addressed the media to make the team public in front of the world. Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh remained in their positions, but Shubman Gill returned as vice captain to the T20I team. Jasprit Bumrah confirmed his position as the pace spearhead by making himself available for the eight-team tournament. The press conference, which lasted about 20 minutes, had several points of discussion. Agarkar and Suryakumar did not answer any of the tough questions about why Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer were not chosen. Agarkar announced the 15-member team and named five standbys for the tournament as well. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Rinku Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Washington Sundar are among the five-member reserve list.

So, without further ado, let's get down to business and talk about the five most talked-about points from the press conference that Ajit Agarkar and Suryakumar Yadav held. Vice-captain Shubman Gill returns: The last time Shubman Gill played in a Twenty20 International was in July 2024 against Sri Lanka, when he was vice-captain of the team. Keeping this continuity in mind, Suryakumar Yadav revealed that the management decided to bring Gill back, replacing Axar Patel as his deputy from the England T20Is.

"The last time Shubman Gill played a T20I for India was when we went to Sri Lanka. When I was leading, he was the vice-captain. The new cycle for the Twenty20 World Cup began there. He then began working on all of the Test series. "We are happy to have him in the squad," Suryakumar Yadav told reporters. Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal are not present: In the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal set the tone for their respective teams. They have not yet received a T20I callback, though.

Agarkar told reporters that it was unfortunate that the two were unable to participate, but given the squad's current strength, nothing could be done. "With regards to Shreyas, I mean, you need to tell him who he can replace. It was neither his nor our fault. "He'll have to wait for his chance, it's just that we have to pick 15 right now," Agarkar said of Shreyas. "With regard to Yashasvi, it's just unfortunate again," Agarkar said about Jaiswal. There is Abhishek Sharma and his work with the team over the past few months or a year or so.

Additionally, the fact that he can occasionally bowl provides us with an alternative in the event that the captain requires it. One of these guys is always going to miss out. It's unfortunate that Yashasvi may need to wait for an opportunity.

Sanju Samson may not participate:
Agarkar was honest enough to admit during the press conference that Sanju Samson only got the chance to start because Gill and Jaiswal were playing in Tests and couldn't play in T20Is. Given this statement, it is possible to draw the conclusion that the right-handed batter is not a certain starter in the Asia Cup team. "Sanju was playing because Shubman and Yashasvi were not available at that point. Abhishek was as well. I mean, it's hard to leave out Abhishek because of his performances. Additionally, his bowling is useful, "Agarkar stated.

Can Shubman Gill become India's captain for all three formats?
In the T20Is, Gill returns as vice-captain of the Test team. Because of this change, there have been rumors about whether Gill will eventually be able to captain the game in all three formats. Rohit Sharma is the ODI captain at the moment, but it is unclear where he will go in the format. When Agarkar was directly asked if Gill has what it takes to become the captain of the all-format team, he chose to sidestep the question. "I can talk to you right now about T20 and Test cricket because he is already leading. Also, as Surya mentioned, the last time he played T20 cricket for India, he was vice captain. So, we obviously see some leadership qualities in him. And behind his form in England was what we were hoping for.

Agarkar stated, "With the kind of form he showed with his back, he obviously exceeded all of our expectations." When there is so much on your plate as captain, this is a great sign. So, like I said, I can only talk about T20 cricket right now and Test cricket," he added.

Jasprit Bumrah's workload:
Due to workload management, Jasprit Bumrah played three out of five Tests against England in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The pacer has come under fire from some quarters ever since the series came to an end for picking and choosing. Bumrah made himself available for the Asia Cup, which begins on September 9 amidst all of this drama.

As he spoke about how special the pacer truly is, Agarkar once more confirmed that Bumrah's workload management would continue despite the outside noise. I mean, I don't believe there is currently a written plan. After the England series, there has obviously been a nice break as well. Whether it's the physios, team management, or the concerned individuals, communication is ongoing. It's not just now. Even before his injury, we have tried to look after him. because we are aware of his value. We clearly want him to be available for all of the big games," Agarkar stated. "But there are World Cups, there are Champions Trophies or big series like England or Australia, where you want him available all the time.

As a result, most fast bowlers are watched. Yes, because he has been injured for the past two or three years, extra care is taken to emphasize how unique and special he is. And nothing will alter it. It won't change whether it's this series or maybe the next 6 months. "How he is feeling as we go along, and when we need him to work with the team, is probably the most important thing," he added.