The India National Cricket Team has officially finalized its opening combination for the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025, which begins on September 9 in the UAE. The Men in Blue will start their campaign against the UAE on September 10, followed by the blockbuster clash against Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai.
After weeks of speculation, the team management has confirmed that Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma will open the batting for India. This decision ends all speculation about possible experiments at the top order and puts Sanju Samson role in focus as he is now likely to bat in the middle order or play as a backup wicketkeeper-batter.
A senior BCCI official stated:
“Gill and Abhishek have been in excellent touch and complement each other’s style. This is the combination we believe gives India the best start in the Asia Cup 2025.”
India enters the tournament as the defending champions, having lifted the trophy in 2023 under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy (ODI format). This time, the competition will be in T20I format, serving as preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
❗️ Breaking News ❗️
— Vaibhav Bhola 🇮🇳 (@VibhuBhola) September 4, 2025
Shubman Gill & Abhishek Sharma Will Open For Team India In Asia Cup.
Top Team Management Has Confirmed This To Me.
There Are No Ifs & Buts, This Is Locked.
Still Agenda Paddlers Will Be Making Fake Videos, So Beware. pic.twitter.com/AhXW7KfIhQ
The team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, is looking to secure its ninth Asia Cup title, continuing its dominance in the tournament history. India has been in exceptional T20I form, winning 35 of their last 40 matches, making them strong favorites for the title.
India’s T20 Asia Cup Records
India has been the most dominant side in the Asia Cup, particularly in the T20I editions. Here’s a quick look at their record:
| Stat | India’s Record |
|---|---|
| Asia Cup Titles (Overall) | 8 (Most by any team) |
| T20 Asia Cup Titles | 1 (2016 Champions) |
| Longest Winning Streak | 7 matches (2016–2022) |
| Most Wins (T20 Asia Cup) | 8 out of 10 matches |
| Highest Team Total | 212/2 vs Afghanistan (2022) |
| Highest Individual Score | Virat Kohli – 122* vs Afghanistan (2022) |
| Most Runs (Indian Batter) | Virat Kohli – 429 runs in 10 matches |
India’s Squad for Asia Cup 2025
The BCCI has announced a strong 15-member squad for the tournament:
- Suryakumar Yadav (C)
- Shubman Gill (VC)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Tilak Varma
- Hardik Pandya
- Shivam Dube
- Axar Patel
- Jitesh Sharma (WK)
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Arshdeep Singh
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Sanju Samson (WK)
- Harshit Rana
- Rinku Singh
Standby Players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel
With Gill and Abhishek confirmed as openers, India is betting on an aggressive yet technically solid start at the top. Their partnership will be crucial, especially against Pakistan’s pace attack and Sri Lanka’s spin-heavy lineup. If the duo can provide solid powerplay starts, India will be well on its way to securing its ninth Asia Cup crown.
