Asia Cup squad: Selectors pick debate along with team

The Indian squad for the Asia Cup has been announced, and as is often the case in Indian cricket, the discussion is not just about who made it but who didn’t.

Coming off a tough Test series in England, the white-ball side has been given a new look, with Suryakumar Yadav handed the reins as captain for the T20 format. It is a bold step, but one that comes with several contentious calls.

The headline omission is Shreyas Iyer. The Mumbai batter, captain of Punjab Kings in the IPL, has numbers that make his case compelling — an average of 50.33, a strike rate of 175, and the highest run aggregate in the last Champions Trophy. By every statistical measure, Iyer has been one of India’s most reliable white-ball players. Yet, his name is missing from the squad sheet. For many, it signals a baffling oversight, given his record and leadership credentials.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul are also conspicuous by their absence. Jaiswal, a naturally aggressive left-hander, has been India’s brightest batting prospect in recent times. Rahul, meanwhile, had an outstanding IPL season, scoring 539 runs at an average of 54. He provided consistency, stability and big runs at the top of the order. If performance is the yardstick, Rahul’s omission raises the same questions as Iyer’s.

On the flip side, some inclusions appear less convincing. Rinku Singh, playing for KKR, endured a relatively quiet season with just 206 runs at an average of 29. Similarly, Shivam Dube, though a powerful hitter and a useful option for Chennai Super Kings, managed 357 runs at an average of 32. Both are fine cricketers, but their recent numbers pale in comparison with some of those overlooked.

One selection that commands merit is Sai Sudharsan. With 759 runs at an average of 54.2 in the last IPL, Sudharsan was a picture of consistency, anchoring Gujarat Titans’ batting. His elevation feels deserved and points to the selectors’ willingness to back young players who deliver over a sustained period.

What’s harder to explain is the continued neglect of other domestic performers. Prabhsimran Singh, with his explosive batting, and Sai Kishore, the left-arm spinner who has excelled in the IPL and on the domestic circuit, remain outside the squad.

In a format that thrives on variety, leaving out a skilled left-arm spinner feels like a missed opportunity. In fairness to the selectors, building a T20 squad is always an exercise in balance. You are picking a team, not a statistical leaderboard. Experience, adaptability and team combinations play their part. Yet, there is a fine line between balance and bias, between trusting reputation and rewarding performance.

In this case, the omissions are loud enough to drown out the logic behind the inclusions. As India heads into the Asia Cup with a new captain and a mix of youth and experience, the cricket itself may settle the arguments. But for now, the squad announcement has added another familiar subplot to Indian cricket — the inevitable debate over selection.