No Mohammed Shami, Yashasvi Jaiswal For Asia Cup 2025 In Mohammad Kaif's XI

The Asia Cup 2025 will begin on 9 September, with Afghanistan taking on Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi. India are scheduled to play their opening match against the UAE on 10 September in Dubai.

While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to announce the official squad, former cricketer Mohammad Kaif has put forward his own selection for the tournament.

Kaif's Suggested XI

Kaif has chosen Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma as openers, with Tilak Varma batting at No. 3 and Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4. Axar Patel, who has also been named vice-captain in his lineup, features at No. 5, followed by Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Washington Sundar.

The bowling attack includes Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah. The additional squad members are Shubman Gill, Varun Chakravarthy, Jitesh Sharma, and Mohammed Siraj.

Key Omissions

Kaif's decision to leave out Yashasvi Jaiswal and senior pacer Mohammed Shami has drawn attention, with many considering their exclusion surprising given their recent form.

Asia Cup 2025 Schedule

Group-stage matches will feature several high-profile encounters, including India vs Pakistan on 14 September in Dubai. Pakistan will play Oman on 12 September. All matches are set to begin at 7:30 PM local time, with the final scheduled for 28 September in Dubai.