India’s Asia Cup 2025 Squad: Shubman Gill Added, No Place for Rinku Singh
Shubman Gill is set for Asia Cup 2025 return, but reports suggest Rinku Singh’s place could be in danger.
The Indian squad for the Asia Cup T20, set to be announced on Tuesday, could bring some tough calls for Ajit Agarkar and his selection team. Reports suggest Test captain Shubman Gill is in contention, but Rinku Singh’s place is uncertain.
Rinku, once hailed as India’s finisher after his five sixes in a single IPL over for KKR, has seen his role fade in recent seasons. He missed the T20 World Cup squad earlier this year, serving only as a standby. In IPL 2024, he faced just 113 balls. This year, the number barely improved to 134.
Under Gautam Gambhir’s mentorship at KKR in 2024, Rinku was used sparingly. With India’s batting order packed, his inclusion for the Asia Cup is no longer a given.
If all players are fit, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya look locked in as the top five. Gill’s return, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal’s presence, means selectors may need to drop a middle or lower-order batter.
A former India selector told PTI that picking Gill without disturbing the current top order could only be possible by leaving out Rinku. “You can’t disturb your top five right now and also pick Shubman. If you do, someone like Rinku could miss out,” he said.
Even without Rinku, India have other finishers. Shivam Dube offers power-hitting and can bowl, while Jitesh Sharma adds wicketkeeping depth along with lower-order firepower.
