The recent performances of Shubman Gill have sparked discussions regarding his place in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. Gill’s exceptional form, marked by 650 runs in IPL 2025 and 754 runs in the England Test series, has put him in contention for a spot in the playing XI. Despite the expectation, there’s a possibility he might not be included in the starting lineup.
Mohammad Kaif has shared his perspective on the team selection. He has stated that Gill might not find a place in the playing XI. Kaif emphasized the importance of maintaining the current T20 batting order’s consistency. Kaif’s suggested playing XI includes Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson as openers, followed by Tilak Varma, captain Suryakumar Yadav, Axar Patel, and Hardik Pandya.
Kaif’s suggested playing XI also includes Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah. He has not included Gill, Rinku Singh, or Varun Chakravarthy in his playing XI. However, he did mention that Gill could be considered as a backup opener. The final team selection, and whether Gill will be included in the playing XI or not, will be decided on August 19 by Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar, when the Indian team is announced.