‘No chance of winning T20 World Cup...’- Former India selector drops shocking verdict on Asia Cup 2025 squad

The former chief selector of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Kris Srikkanth, has slammed the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee and the T20I captain of the Blue Brigade, Suryakumar Yadav, for removing Axar Patel from the vice-captaincy for the Asia Cup 2025. He also questioned the presence of Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, and Shivam Dube.

Srikkanth has struggled to find a reason for the removal of vice-captaincy for Axar, who was in charge during the home five-match T20I series against England earlier this year. Shubman Gill replaced the left-arm spin all-rounder in that position, as Srikkanth also predicted that even if the national side went on to the Asia Cup 2025, they might not do the same with the T20 World Cup 2026.

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“We might win the Asia Cup with this team, but there is no chance of winning the T20 World Cup with this bunch. Are you going to take this team to the World Cup? Is this the preparation for the T20 World Cup, which is hardly six months away?” The former opening batter of India expressed on his YouTube channel.

Kris Srikkanth questions India’s decision to appoint Shubman Gill as vice-captain for Asia Cup 2025

In the press conference, Suryakumar added that Gill was always in the position of vice-captaincy. But they had to change it because the Punjab-born couldn’t play many T20Is due to the Champions Trophy 2025 and several other ODI and Test series, including the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 and recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy (ATT) 2025.

“They have gone backwards. Axar Patel has been axed from vice-captaincy. I don’t know how Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Harshit Rana have come in. IPL is considered the main criterion for selection, but the selectors seem to have considered performances before that.” The former Tamil Nadu opener reckoned.

India’s opening contest of the Asia Cup 2025 will be against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on September 10 before they lock horns with the arch-rivals, Pakistan, on September 14, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.