Among the many names in contention, one that stands out is young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.Over the last couple of years, Yashasvi Jaiswal has shown maturity beyond his age, becoming one of India’s most fearless T20 batters. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s aggressive stroke play, adaptability across conditions, and natural ability to take the game away from opponents make him a strong contender for a spot in the squad.
The countdown to the Asia Cup 2025 has already begun, with the tournament set to kick off on September 09. While the excitement builds, the BCCI is yet to announce India’s squad, leaving fans eagerly debating who should make the cut.
3 reasons why Yashasvi Jaiswal should be picked in India’s T20I squad for Asia Cup 2025
1) Fearless powerplay batting
One of the biggest reasons Yashasvi Jaiswal deserves a place in the Asia Cup squad is his intent in the Powerplay. Unlike many young players who take time to settle, Yashasvi Jaiswal loves to go after the bowlers right from ball one. His ability to find boundaries early gives India the momentum that often defines T20 games. Moreover, being a left-hander, he brings much-needed variety to India’s top order, which can unsettle opposition strategies and force bowlers into uncomfortable lengths.
2) Comfort against both pace and spin
Asian conditions demand batters who can handle high-quality spin as well as fast bowlers with the new ball. Yashasvi Jaiswal has proven he can do both. Against pacers, he is quick on the pull and strong through the off-side, while against spinners, he uses his feet smartly and doesn’t shy away from playing attacking shots like sweeps and lofts. This versatility ensures he doesn’t slow down after the Powerplay, which helps India keep the scoreboard ticking in the middle overs—a phase where many teams struggle.
3) Proven big-match temperament
Another reason why Yashasvi Jaiswal should be in the squad is his ability to rise to big occasions. Be it in the IPL or in international cricket, he has shown that pressure doesn’t affect his natural game. Yashasvi Jaiswal thrives in high-stakes matches by sticking to his attacking style rather than going into a shell.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s T20 career in numbers
Opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal made his T20I debut for India against the West Indies in 2023. In the last 24 months , the southpaw has played 23 T20I matches and scored 723 runs at a strike rate of 164.31 with a best score of 100. His last T20I came against Sri Lanka in July 2024.
The batter, however, has emerged as a key cog in the wheel for his Indian Premier League(IPL ) franchise Rajasthan Royals. The 23-year-old has made 2166 runs in 67 matches ata a strike rate of 152.85 with 15 fifties and 2 hundreds. He was also one of the RR’s retained players ahead of mega auctions in November 2024.
Ahead of the much anticipated Asia Cup 2025, Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reckons Yashasvi Jaiswal as an automatic choice for India’s opening slot.
Yashasvi Jaiswal automatically gets a kick-in Ravichandran Ashwin
Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said that opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal should be an automatic selection in India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad. He feels that with Rohit Sharma having retired from the format, Yashasvi Jaiswal is an automatic pick , considering he was also the backup opener at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
R Ashwin admitted that selectors find themselves in a tricky position as far as picking the second opener batter is concerned. He said on his Youtube channel “Ash ki Baat ” :
“There are a few talking points regarding the Asia Cup. The first question that comes to everyone’s mind is whether Shubman Gill fits into the T20 plans because in the last World Cup, Yashasvi Jaiswal was the backup opener. So Jaiswal automatically gets a kick-in. Rohit Sharma is not going to be a part of that team, so Jaiswal automatically gets a look-in.”
“Now, who is going to be that other opener? Shubman Gill had an outstanding series. Can he return to the squad? Sanju Samson has had a fabulous run as a T20 opener for India. So I think it is a tricky state for the selectors. Can Shreyas Iyer make a comeback? There is a lot of decision-making that the selectors have to make. Even if there is a lot to talk about, the Indian T20I side has been a successful unit”.
Earlier on Saturday, August 16, India received a boost when reports emerged that captain Suryakumar Yadav had a cleared a fitness test. Reports also said that the 34- year-old would attend the selection meeting to choose India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2025. The Asia Cup is always a high-pressure tournament, and India will need players who can deliver in crunch situations. Yashasvi Jaiswal has already shown that he has the temperament, talent, and hunger to rise to the occasion.
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