There were a couple of notable exclusions in India’s 15-member T20I squad announced for the Asia Cup 2025 on Tuesday (August 19). Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer failed to make the cut despite being the top performers in IPL over the last few seasons.
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was also left baffled by Jaiswal and Iyer’s snub. He believes the duo is among the few batters who are not selfish and take risks for the team’s benefit, adding that their approach might change now as it didn’t help them earn a place in the side.
Jaiswal was India’s backup opener at the 2024 T20 World Cup but didn’t make it to the Asia Cup lineup, replaced by Shubman Gill. Although the two were competing for the same spot for a while, Gill also got the deputy role, all but securing his place in the playing XI.
“Not only has his slot gone, but there’s a leadership role in that. Now, he’s left with one spot — he needs to fight for Abhishek Sharma’s place. Or he’ll have to go and play in the middle-order in the IPL. He averages 36, with a strike rate of 165 in this format. It’s very hard to find a guy like Jaiswal. He doesn’t play for himself sometimes, I have seen a lot of batters who do. Shreyas is the same," Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.
“Both of them play less for their average and more for strike rate. If the ball is there to be hit, they take the chance. It took a long time for India to get players with that brand of cricket. Now you got those players… I’ll say if I am Jaiswal or Shreyas, now my chance is gone, so from the next time if a risk has to be taken, I won’t. I’ll play for myself because I need to secure my place. It’s unfortunate you’ll have to play for that in T20s," Ashwin added.
Jaiswal has represented India in 23 T20Is so far, amassing 723 runs at a strike rate of 164.31. The only batter to have more runs for the country at a superior strike rate is captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Ashwin further threw his weight behind Jaiswal, saying that the southpaw had never let down the team and deserved to be treated better.
“Jaiswal got a chance in Test cricket. He took it with both hands. Easily the most successful Test batter to make a debut for India in the recent past. He excelled in whichever format you gave him a chance. What can a guy do apart from excellence? He showed excellence, and now, in that spot, his chance is gone. What can he do now? Go back to the drawing board. I really wish him well when he gets a chance in the future," Ashwin remarked.
