Prominent Indian Stars Who Could Be Shown T20I Exit Door If They Fail In Asia Cup 2025

Indian players under scrutiny [Source: AFP Photo]

The wait is almost over as the Asia Cup 2025 is set to commence on Tuesday, September 9, in the UAE. Eight teams will take part in the tournament, and India will enter the marquee event as the defending champions, having won the competition in 2023. However, that was the 50-over version, but this time, the Asia Cup will be played in T20 format.

India boasts a strong squad heading into the event, but there are several players who are under scrutiny and could lose their place in T20Is if they fail to deliver the goods in the Asia Cup. In this piece, we will talk about 3 such players who are in danger of losing their berth in the game’s shortest format if runs/wickets don’t come by in the Asia Cup.

1) Rinku Singh

Rinku Singh was picked in the India Asia Cup squad, but the Kolkata Knight Riders batter has been under scrutiny for his poor performance in the IPL 2025 season. He started his T20I career with a string of quality performances, but as of late, Rinku’s numbers have dipped.

(Rinku T20I stats in last two series)

• In the last two series for India, Rinku Singh has underperformed and has failed to deliver the goods. In the South African tour, the southpaw averaged just 9.33, and his strike rate was also below the 100-mark. The batter failed to adjust to the tough conditions in South Africa, and even failed in the home series vs England.
• The upcoming Asia Cup could be Rinku’s last chance to redeem himself. If he fails to deliver, India has a plethora of talent to fill in the finisher’s role, which Rinku does at the moment.

2) Shivam Dube

Another batter who is under scrutiny is CSK’s Shivam Dube. The batter was brought back in the T20I setup after a stellar season with the Super Kings in IPL 2022. However, as of late, the left-handed batter has failed to impress. In the IPL 2025 season, Dube looked like a pale shadow of his former self, and his hitting ability looked lost.

(Dube stats in IPL 2025)

• He scored 352 runs, which is not bad by any means, but the strike rate of 132 raises questions about his ability to deliver a hard-hitting knock. In the IPL, he failed as a finisher for CSK, and that could be a worrying side for the Indian team.
• Recently, the Indian T20I team has moved on from anchors, and while the top order players are striking at well over 150, Dube’s strike rate of just 132 raises alarm. If he fails in the Asia Cup, India could move on from him.

3) Harshit Rana

Known as Gambhir’s favourite, Harshit Rana was reportedly selected, not on the basis of merit but rather due to favouritism. Ever since the squad was announced, Harshit has come under the spotlight, but for all the wrong reasons. Fans and experts have questioned his selection, and the upcoming Asia Cup could be massive for him.

Harshit Rana is known for leaking runs at a higher economy, and if the bowler has a dismal tournament, India will not spare the bowler and he could be shown a permanent exit door from the T20I squad.

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