The Indian squad for the Asia Cup 2025 was announced on August 19 by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and while the selection was praised by many of the former cricketers and experts, debate has been raging since then on the exclusion of two talented batters.

Shubman Gill was surprisingly picked for the Indian T20I team and made vice-captain, while Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had an excellent outing in IPL 2025, were omitted. While Jaiswal was named in the reserve players, Iyer was ignored entirely.

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar is aware of the domestic debate around the selection, but he finds it puzzling that certain former players from other countries are stoking it.

Gavaskar stated that he would have been shocked if there hadn't been any discussion on the Asia Cup team among commentators, the Indian media, and social media. However, he finds it unacceptable that even former cricket players from other countries are participating in this discussion.

"What is baffling is foreigners who have zero stake in Indian cricket, and much less knowledge about it, wading into the debate and adding fuel to the fire. However great they may be as players and however many times they may have been to India, the selection of the Indian team is strictly none of their business. They should focus on their country's cricket and let us Indians worry about our cricket. Amazingly, when their country's teams are selected, there's hardly anything, if ever, heard from them about the selection.

It's almost as if the selection is perfect and they have no comments to make. So, why butt your nose into the selection of the Indian team? Have you ever heard Indian ex-cricketers talk about the selection of other countries' teams? No, we mind our own business and seriously couldn't be bothered by who they choose or who they don't select," Gavaskar said in his column for Sportstar.

Notably, Shreyas Iyer made 604 runs in 17 games for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, while Yashasvi Jaiswal made 559 runs in 14 games for Rajasthan Royals.

Gavaskar feels that foreign cricketers make such videos to get more reaction from Indian team fans in India, leading to more followers and views on their social media accounts.

"Today, in the days of public media, where getting views and followers is the theme, one of the fastest ways to increase the numbers is by commenting on matters Indian. And mostly, they do it negatively, so there is a huge reaction from Indian keyboard users, which in turn boosts their follower count. If you have thick skin, then all the better. That's why so many overseas cricketers have made a living by needling the Indian cricket lovers with their mostly negative comments about Indian cricket and cricketers.

To an extent, the Indian media is also responsible, as they go to overseas cricketers and ask them about Indian cricket. How often, on overseas tours, do we see members of the Indian media chasing former players from the host country—players whom even their own nation has almost forgotten—for an interview? It's almost as if validation of Indian cricket and its cricketers has to be obtained from overseas players," said the ex-India captain.

India is set to clash with the UAE on September 10 in the Asia Cup 2025, which will be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE from September 9 onwards.