Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has identified a new alternate playing XI comprising players not selected in the actual squad for the Asia Cup 2025. He picked Shreyas Iyer as the skipper, while including the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant.
India had announced their Asia Cup squad, and due to limited slots, several big names missed the upcoming continental championship. The selectors clarified that it is only unfortunate for those players, as they have done everything right, but would just have to wait for their right time.
The controversies surrounded the exclusion of players like Shreyas Iyer, Prasidh Krishna, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had performed significantly well in the domestic seasons as well as the IPL. Former Indian Test batter has come to the rescue of the selectors as he named an alternate XI with the unselected Indian players, pleasing the minds of ICT fans.
New Opening duo announced for alternate India XI for the Asia Cup
Chopra has announced his XI, which comprises the Indian left-handed batting stalwart, Yashasvi Jaiswal, at the top. He clearly deserved a spot in the XI after his consistent performances for the Indian side as well as in the IPL.
“Let’s start with Yashasvi Jaiswal. I feel his name should have been there in the Asia Cup squad as well because he was part of the T20 World Cup squad. If he was there, why not here, as continuity is spoken about?” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Along with the RR opener, he placed CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad in the opening slot, since the batter has been a consistent performer in the IPL, but was ruled out last season due to an injury.
“Along with him, I have kept Ruturaj Gaikwad. He has been the Indian team’s vice-captain and scored a century against Australia in Guwahati. He got injured in the IPL, but he is also a consistent performer. He is also someone who has completely disappeared from the scene,” he added.
Shreyas Iyer named skipper of Asia Cup alternate XI
Going into the middle order, Aakash Chopra contradicted his own claim on KL Rahul and picked the Delhi Capitals batter as his no. 3. The next man on the XI is Shreyas Iyer, whom he also appointed as the captain of the side.
“I have kept Shreyas Iyer at No. 4 in my team and as a captain. At No. 5, I have got Rishabh Pant as a wicketkeeper-batter in my team. At No. 6, I have kept Nitish Kumar Reddy because he does the job Hardik Pandya does,” Chopra observed.
Aakash Chopra then went on to make a big call of three spinners in the side, as he named all-rounder Krunal Pandya, who played a major role for RCB alongside Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi. The two seamers, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, the Gujarat Titans duo, ended Chopra’s alternate XI.
No Players have missed the India selection for the Asia Cup due to injury
The Ajit Agarkar committee had earlier mentioned during the announcement of the Asia Cup 2025 squad that none of the Indian players had missed selection due to any form of injury sustained in their career.
Hence, it can be learned that, like Shreyas Iyer, even the likes of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rishabh Pant have been snubbed, but their non-selection might be cited due to their poor IPL performance. Aakash Chopra also named 5 more players as reserves in his alternate squad, which includes Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Khaleel Ahmed.
Aakash Chopra’s Unselected Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturah Gaikwad, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer [c], Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj.
