Asia Cup 2025: Who makes it to the final playing XI?

Countdown Begins for India’s First Battle in Dubai

The countdown has begun for Team India’s opening clash in the Asia Cup 2025, and the excitement is peaking as the men in blue prepare to face hosts UAE in Dubai. After three consecutive days of intense training at the ICC Academy, Suryakumar Yadav’s squad looks charged up, but the biggest question remains unanswered, who makes it to the final playing XI?

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The opener’s slot has sparked a real tug-of-war. While vice-captain Shubman Gill is a certainty, the battle for his partner has narrowed down between Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. Early whispers from the camp suggest Abhishek may get the green signal, forcing Samson to wait for a middle-order role. But the No.3 slot too has its own drama, with Tilak Varma emerging as a strong contender, adding to Gambhir and Surya’s selection headache.

From there, things start to look more settled. The captain himself will hold firm at No.4, followed by the dependable all-rounder Axar Patel at No.5. Hardik Pandya, India’s trusted powerhouse, will take charge at No.6, bringing balance with both bat and ball. At No.7, however, lies another twist. Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma are neck-and-neck, but coaches Gautam Gambhir and T. Dilip were seen paying special attention to Jitesh in practice, hinting that he may walk into the XI as India’s designated finisher.

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Given the conditions in Dubai, spin will play a decisive role. Team management is keen to unleash the deadly duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, both of whom were instrumental in India’s earlier triumphs in the UAE. Their combination of chinaman and mystery spin could be the game-changer in this opener. To round it off, Jasprit Bumrah’s fiery yorkers will partner with Arshdeep Singh’s left-arm swing to spearhead the pace attack. Sadly for youngster Harshit Rana, it looks like the bench will be his stage this time.

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With just hours left for the first ball, India’s only unsolved puzzles remain the second opener, the No.3 slot, and the finisher’s role. Whether Gambhir and Surya back experience or gamble on youthful flair will be revealed only at the toss. One thing, however, is clear: Asia Cup 2025 is set for a blockbuster start, and Team India’s selection suspense has already stolen the spotlight.

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