3 players who can be X factor for India in upcoming Asia Cup 2025

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming 2025 Asia Cup season. The tournament will begin on September 9, with the Blue Brigade participating in the event against the United Arab Emirates on the following day. The most-anticipated clash will be against Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai. 

Suryakumar Yadav, after completing the fitness assessment, has returned to lead the side along with the premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the fifth and final Test of the away England trip during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 due to workload management, has also returned to the squad.

India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad

Surya Kumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh

Let’s take a look at the three players who can be X-factor for India in Upcoming Asia Cup 2025

1. Suryakumar Yadav

In any event, the responsibility over any captain remains immense. That will be the same story with the Indian leader, Suryakumar Yadav. He didn’t enjoy their last T20I series against England at home with the bat, having managed just 28 runs in five innings at an average of under six and a strike rate of 116.66, thanks to the best score of 14.

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However, his overall record in T20Is paints a different picture. The right-handed batter has clubbed 2598 runs in 79 innings at an average of 38.20 and a strike rate of 167.07, with the help of four centuries and 21 half-centuries at the best score of 117 runs.

During the recent 2025 season of the IPL, the 34-year-old drilled 717 runs for the Mumbai Indians in 16 innings at an average of 65.18. His strike rate of 167.91 was fabulous, scoring five half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 73 runs.

2. Hardik Pandya

The balance of the Indian side heavily leans on their premier all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, in the white-ball events. During the home England series earlier this year, he smashed 133 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 131.68 with the best score of 73* besides picking up five wickets at an economy rate of under nine.

The Baroda all-rounder has drilled overall 1812 runs in 90 T20I innings at an average of under 28 and a strike rate of 141.67, with five half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 71 runs. With the ball, he has picked up 94 wickets in 102 innings at an economy rate of 8.20.

During the 2025 season of the IPL, the veteran has smacked 224 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 163.50. The right-arm pacer also picked up 14 wickets in 14 innings at an average of 24.42 and an economy rate of under 10 for the Mumbai Indians.

3. Varun Chakravarthy

Varun Chakravathy finished the home T20I series against England as the leading wicket-taker. The Tamil Nadu spinner was the leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps in five innings at an average of under 10 and an economy rate of 7.66. His four overs will be crucial, especially in the middle overs.

Chakravarthy continued the same rhythm during the 2025 season of the IPL. Out of his 100 wickets of the league, the right-arm spinner has bagged 17 scalps in the 2025 edition in 13 innings at an average of 22.52 and an economy rate of under eight.

Varun has the skills to pick wickets at any stage of the game, including the powerplay and death. His partnership with the ball, along with Kuldeep Yadav, will be essential for India to go for their title defense.