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The BCCI has finally announced India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to take place next month in the UAE. The selection brought a few surprises that quickly sparked reactions from fans and experts. Among them, Ravichandran Ashwin openly criticized the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Asia Cup 2025: Ravichandran Ashwin criticizes BCCI for dropping of Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal
Ashwin voiced his disappointment, saying that Jaiswal had been the third opener in the T20 World Cup 2024, yet was dropped to bring in Shubman Gill. While he expressed happiness for Gill, he admitted feeling very sad for both Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer, stressing it was unfair since Iyer’s blistering form helped India win the Champions Trophy earlier this year.
“When you have Yashasvi Jaiswal as the third opener in the T20 World Cup 2024, to remove someone from the World Cup squad and bring in Shubman Gill. I mean, it’s okay, I am happy for Shubman, but I’m very, very, very sad for both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer. It is just not fair to these two kids. Iyer went out of the team, but came and helped you win in the Champions Trophy” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel ‘Ash ki Baat’.
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Ashwin also shares his take on Shubman Gill as all-format captain
Ashwin further accepted that Gill’s inclusion, pointing out his role as vice-captain and his strong IPL record with Gujarat Titans. He suggested that the selectors may be looking at Gill as a long-term leader and even a potential all-format captain, though he also stressed that having the same captain in every format is not essential.
“Genuinely, I understand Shubman Gill’s selection. He is also the vice-captain. He has scored a lot of runs for the Gujarat Titans in the IPL. He has credentials to be picked in the T20I setup, Maybe they are thinking of Shubman Gill as the leader for the future. Maybe he can be the all-format captain. But it is not necessary to have the same captain in all formats,” Ashwin concluded.
Also READ: ‘Who can he replace?’: Ajit Agarkar drops a bombshell on Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from India’s squad
