The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee has to make several tough calls ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, as they are likely to keep KL Rahul away from the Indian T20I setup and bring in younger players like Dhruv Jurel and Jitesh Sharma as the second-choice wicket-keeper after their impressive show in the IPL.
India batsman KL Rahul has been in stupendous form in England, where he scored 500+ runs in 5 games for India and also scored 2 centuries and 2 vital fifties, respectively. His form was pleasing, while his responsibility as an experienced batter was also praised.
KL is now the first-choice opener in Test cricket after Rohit Sharma’s retirement and is the top-choice wicket-keeper in ODIs, since he was picked over Rishabh Pant in this year’s ICC Champions Trophy. However, the batter with so much respect in the other two formats has been ordered otherwise in the shortest format of the game.
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Indian keeper KL Rahul has been ordered to be kept away from the T20I format
According to PTI reports, India is likely to retain the successful combination of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, as the two have brought immense glory to India with partnerships as well as individual records.
Also, the middle order looks secure with the probable return of skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who has resumed batting in the nets at the BCCI’s CoE in Bengaluru. Hence, a batter like KL Rahul, who, despite being versatile, cannot bat lower than No. 5 in T20s, probably has no place for him in the T20I side.
KL Rahul batted for Delhi Capitals in the middle order at no. 4, but such a role seems occupied in the Indian team. Hence, KL Rahul is unlikely to make any comeback into the Indian T20I side.
India considers Sanju Samson’s IPL teammate as the second-choice wicket-keeper for the Asia Cup 2025
If not KL Rahul, and with Rishabh Pant injured, the Indian selectors have to consider some players as the second-choice backup wicket-keeper, with Sanju Samson being the first choice.
Hence, the India selectors are likely to consider the likes of Rajasthan Royals teammate of Samson, Dhruv Jurel, who already had a long outing with the gloves in England. He was Rishabh Pant’s injury substitute on several occasions at Lord’s and then at Manchester. He was brought into the XI as Pant’s replacement in the Oval Test.
While Jurel was also part of the T20 series squad against England, RCB wicket-keeper Jitesh Sharma has been more impressive in a finishing role for the Challengers this season in the IPL.
India would need one such big hitter down the order, and Sharma seems better suited than Jurel, who failed to win some crucial matches for the Royals instead.
Will Bumrah or Mohammed Siraj play in the Asia Cup?
Indian speedsters Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah were part of the Indian side that played the Test series against England and will likely play the series against the West Indies after the Asia Cup concludes.
Hence, there has been an uncertainty prevailing over their availability for the upcoming Asia Cup. Though Siraj has not been featuring for India in T20s, Bumrah has been a regular on the side, especially in ICC and ACC tournaments.
As per the latest reports, Bumrah will be part of the Asia Cup and might be rested for the first Test against the West Indies, which starts on the 2nd of October, just 4 days after the end of the Asia Cup, with its final scheduled on the 28th of September.
Bumrah might be paired alongside the likes of Arshdeep Singh, India’s regular pacer in T20s, who stands at the brink of 100 T20I wickets, the first by an Indian. While Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna remain as strong contenders for the third pacer.
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