Asia Cup 2025: The Asia Cup 2025 is all set to start from September 9, and the Men in Blue will be facing the UAE on September 10. The Indian team landed in Dubai earlier this week, and they began their first practice session on Friday.
They have been put in Group A, which consists of arch-nemesis Pakistan, Oman, and the host. Before their tournament opener, head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen giving a strong message to all the members of the Indian team, and it proved that he meant business.
Star all-rounder Shivam Dube, who is part of the Indian squad, has reckoned that Gambhir has told him that they have a chance to do something ‘new’ for the team and that they should embrace the challenge.
All the players attended the first practice session on Friday, including Jasprit Bumrah and Shubman Gill, who were seen sweating it out.
Suryakumar Yadav would be leading the team from the front, and Gill has been picked as the vice-captain. It would be interesting to see whether Sanju Samson would be included in the playing XI or not, as Gill is supposed to open the innings along with Abhishek Sharma.
“There is always one thing that the coach has said to every player. Whenever you play for the country, you have the opportunity to do something new,” Dube was heard as saying in the video shared by the BCCI.
‘Very excited’
Shubman Gill, who is the vice captain of the Indian team, is ecstatic to be playing in this format again, as he last played in a T20I way back in July last year.
It should be noted here that Gill was also the vice-captain in the T20I series against Sri Lanka last year, and he is again picked for that position. And speculations are rife that he would become India’s T20I skipper in the future.
“Very excited. I think it’s a great group. The way we have been playing in T20S has been nothing short of entertaining cricket. Very happy to join the group,” Gill was quoted as saying in the video.
Jasprit Bumrah would be playing in this format post the 2024 T20 World Cup. The star fast bowler revealed that he was excited to be a part of a side consisting of youngsters.
“It feels very good. I have joined the T20I team after a long time. This three-week window was good, got some time home. Some young people and young energy are in this team. So exciting times ahead,” he concluded.