Team India will head into the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy, and the squad looks well-balanced on paper. However, former cricketer Mohammad Kaif has raised concerns that the team may miss the presence of an all-rounder who can change the game with both the bat and ball.
The Asia Cup 2025 is set to begin in the next 24 hours, with all participating teams having arrived in the UAE. Team India, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, will open their campaign on Wednesday, September 10. They will take on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their first match of the marquee tournament.
Washington Sundar Will Be Missed – Mohammad Kaif
Mohammad Kaif has questioned Gambhir’s decision to leave Washington Sundar out of the main 15-member squad for the Asia Cup 2025. Sundar has been named among the five standby players, meaning he can only join the tournament if someone from the main squad is unavailable.
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Kaif stated that the team had three genuine all-rounders during India’s T20 World Cup win under Rohit Sharma. He said that the three all-rounders added depth in batting. The former batter believes Sundar’s absence could affect the team’s balance and flexibility.
“Rohit’s team won the T20 World Cup with 3 all-rounders – Axar, Jadeja, Hardik – and that meant 6 proper bowling options and batting till 8. At Asia Cup, with only 2 genuine all-rounders – Hardik and Axar. – India will have to find a new winning combination. Washington Sundar will be missed,” Mohammad Kaif wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Rohit’s team won the T20 World Cup with 3 all-rounders – Axar, Jadeja, Hardik – and that meant 6 proper bowling options and batting till 8. At Asia Cup, with only 2 genuine allrounders – Hardik and Axar. – India will have to find a new winning combination. Washington Sundar will…
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) September 8, 2025
Washington Sundar’s T20I Record for Team India
India’s T20 World Cup-winning side benefited from having three genuine all-rounders. Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Hardik Pandya provided depth in both batting and bowling. The Men in Blue won the tournament unbeaten.
However, Gambhir’s team only has two main all-rounders, Hardik and Axar, for the Asia Cup 2025. Washington Sundar has not been included in the squad for the upcoming tournament.
Sundar has represented India in 54 T20Is. He has scored 193 runs at an average of 13.79 with a strike rate of 121.39, including one half-century.
The off-spinner has also taken 48 wickets at an average of 23.5 and an economy rate of 6.94. Sundar last played a T20I match against England in January 2025.
Men in Blue Placed in Group A Alongside Pakistan, UAE, and Oman
Asia Cup 2025 will be held in the UAE. The Men in Blue are placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B includes Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong. The tournament will follow the T20 format in preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Suryakumar Yadav’s side will kick off their campaign against the UAE on September 10. They will face Pakistan on September 14 and conclude the group stage with a clash against Oman on September 19. The Super 4 stage is set to begin on September 20, with the final scheduled for September 28.
The Men in Blue were originally scheduled to host a white-ball series against Bangladesh in August 2025, but the tour has been postponed to September 2026.
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