The five standby players selected for the next Asia Cup 2025—Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel—will not be joining the main team in Dubai, according to reports from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

A senior BCCI official gave a negative response when asked if any of the standby players would accompany the team as backups or as net bowlers.

“No, the standby players will not be travelling with the main squad to Dubai,” the BCCI official told PTI.

The decision demonstrates the Indian team management's desire for a small traveling group, with possible replacements probably only being flown in when absolutely required.

Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Shubman Gill are already available for opening the batting for India. Only in the event that one of them gets hurt will Yashasvi Jaiswal be needed. Similarly, if something were to happen to Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, or Harshit Rana, Prasidh might enter the scene.

India also named only 15 members in its Asia Cup squad, while the Asia Cup provision allowed them to name a squad of 17.

Suryakumar Yadav will lead the 15-member Indian squad that will assemble in Dubai on September 4 ahead of the tournament opener on September 9. Players will not initially assemble in Mumbai as is customary. Rather, they will take direct flights to Dubai from their respective cities.

“All the players will arrive in Dubai by the evening of September 4, and the first nets session will be held on September 5 at the ICC Academy. Factoring in the logistical convenience, the players will be allowed to fly into Dubai from their respective cities.

Obviously, a few will travel from Mumbai, but to ask some of the others to first come to Mumbai and then fly to Dubai doesn’t make sense. In any case, Dubai is a short-duration flight compared to other international flights,” the official added.

Currently, spinner Kuldeep Yadav is representing Central Zone against NortheastZone, while Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana are representing North Zone against East Zone in the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal.

India's Asia Cup campaign will kick off on September 10 against the United Arab Emirates. They will then play a high-profile match against Pakistan on September 14 and then against Oman on September 19. Following the group matches, the Super Four stage will start.

(PTI inputs)