Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant were last seen on the field during India’s Test tour of England. According to reports, India’s T20I squad for the Asia Cup 2025 may not include two of its most dynamic players, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant. With the 2026 T20 World Cup scheduled on home soil just months away, the BCCI appears to be planning the team without the star duo for the shortest format.
As per the Indian Express, neither Jaiswal nor Rishabh Pant is currently in the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) plans for the Indian T20I team. Even Shubman Gill’s spot is not guaranteed, though there are indications that he could be included as Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy for the Asia Cup 2025.
Last year, Jaiswal and Gill opened the innings in India’s 3-0 T20I series win over Sri Lanka. Since the BCCI decided to rest Test players from T20Is, both have been absent from the format.
Rishabh Pant, who is recovering from an injury and will miss the Asia Cup regardless, is also sidelined in T20I plans, largely due to inconsistent performances. Rishabh Pant has scored just 1,209 runs in 76 T20Is at an average of 23.09 and had a disappointing IPL 2025 season, amassing only 269 runs in 14 matches at an average of 24.25.
Yashasvi Jaiswal reported omission comes as a bigger surprise. The youngster has scored 723 runs in 23 T20Is, including a century and five fifties, with a strike rate of 164.31. In IPL 2025, he was Rajasthan Royals’ lone consistent performer, scoring 559 runs at an average of 43 and a strike rate of 159.71 despite the team’s overall poor campaign.
Jitesh Sharma in Contention as Backup Keeper to Sanju Samson in T20Is
Following series victories against South Africa, England, and Bangladesh, the Indian T20I side has reached new heights, with Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Tilak Verma leading the charge at the top of the order. The top four appears set, with captain Suryakumar Yadav slated to bat at number four.
Reports suggest that Jitesh Sharma is in contention to serve as the team’s backup wicketkeeper. If Shubman Gill makes a return, he could open in place of Samson, paving the way for Jitesh to slot into the lower order.
On the bowling front, aside from Jasprit Bumrah, the BCCI has identified Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy as key x-factors for the T20I squad.
