Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has stirred up debate with his alternate squad for the Asia Cup 2025—an XI made entirely of players overlooked by the selectors. His exercise not only underlines the depth of Indian cricket but also shines a light on the notable absentees, including senior pacer Mohammed Shami, whose omission from both Chopra’s lineup and the official squad has fuelled speculation about his international future.

Aakash Chopra’s dilemma over continuity vs form

At the top, Chopra went with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, sparking discussion on the principle of continuity in selection. Jaiswal, who was the third opener in India’s victorious T20 World Cup campaign, was surprisingly demoted to the reserves list for the Asia Cup, with Shubman Gill reinstated as vice-captain. Chopra questioned the selective use of continuity as a criterion, suggesting Jaiswal had every reason to feel hard done by.

Gaikwad’s selection brought another forgotten name back into the spotlight. The Maharashtra right-hander, who once led India and scored a memorable century against Australia in Guwahati, has since “completely disappeared from the scene,” as Chopra put it on his YouTube channnel. His absence is even more puzzling given his strong domestic record and India’s preference for aggressive batting at the top.

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Middle order and strong bowling featuring big names

The alternate XI’s middle order reflects Chopra’s eye for balance. KL Rahul slots in at number three—a role rarely associated with him in recent T20Is. Chopra stressed Rahul’s adaptability, praising his ability to both anchor innings and shift gears. While Rahul is also a reliable wicketkeeper, Chopra preferred to assign the gloves to Rishabh Pant, who takes the number five role.

The standout selection, however, is Shreyas Iyer at number four, handed the captaincy in this unpicked XI. Despite guiding Punjab Kings to IPL finals and displaying proven leadership credentials, Iyer has been left out of the Asia Cup squad altogether, not even finding space among the reserves. Chopra’s move to make him captain underscores just how much leadership depth India currently possesses.

To round off the batting unit, Nitish Kumar Reddy fills the seam-bowling all-rounder slot—echoing the balance Hardik Pandya provides in the main squad.

India’s embarrassment of riches is most evident in the bowling unit. Chopra combined Krunal Pandya and Washington Sundar as spin-bowling all-rounders, with a nod to Krunal’s standout IPL performances that arguably deserved higher recognition. Ravi Bishnoi features as the specialist wrist-spinner, adding variety to the attack.

The pace lineup is equally formidable, with Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj spearheading the fast-bowling department. The fact that such names are sidelined highlights the luxury of options available to India in all formats.

Chopra’s India unselected XI for Asia Cup 2025

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj

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