India will open their Asia Cup campaign against UAE on September 10.
Ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, it has been learned that India’s leading all-rounder Hardik Pandya will undergo a fitness assessment at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Pandya had played a crucial role in India’s title-winning campaigns at the T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy earlier this year. He has been training in Mumbai since mid-July, and the team will have high hopes from him to win the Asia Cup, slated to get underway on September 9.
According to a report published in TOI, Pandya will go through the assessment procedure in Bengaluru on August 11 and 12.
The report further claimed that middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer had completed his fitness assessment between July 27 and 29.
In the T20I format, Iyer hasn’t been in the scheme of things since the beginning of 2024. However, he has strengthened his selection claims through consistent performances in the IPL over the past two editions.
The 30-year-old was instrumental both as a batter and captain, leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the title win in 2024, and guiding Punjab Kings (PBKS) to the final of the IPL 2025 season. It remains to be seen whether he makes the cut in the upcoming continental tournament.
Meanwhile, India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav will spend another week at the Centre of Excellence to gain full fitness under the watchful eyes of the physios and medical team. He had a remarkable IPL 2025 season, amassing 717 runs for the Mumbai Indians and winning the Most Valuable Player award.
After Rohit Sharma retired from T20Is following India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, Suryakumar was appointed the full-time T20I captain. Since then, India have won 17 of the 22 matches under his leadership.
The selectors are expected to name a preliminary squad for Asia Cup 2025 soon. India will open their campaign against UAE at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 10.
(With TOI Inputs)