RCB's Jitesh Sharma And? IPL 2025 Performers Whom India Recalled For Asia Cup

Debashis Sarangi

Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma [Source: AFP]Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma [Source: AFP]

The BCCI selection committee, on Tuesday, announced India's 15-member squad for the Asia Cup 2025. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the Men in Blue will take on Oman, UAE and Pakistan in the league stage of the tournament. 

While the exclusion of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer grabbed the limelight, there were several players who received a T20I recall following their exploits in the IPL 2025, as mentioned below. 

Shubman Gill - GT

Last T20I appearance- India vs Sri Lanka, July 30, 2024

How Shubman Gill's IPL 2025 performance helped him make T20I comeback?

Criterion
Data
Innings
15
Runs650
Average50
Strike Rate155.88

(Shubman Gill's IPL 2025 stats)

  • Consistency: Shubman Gill emerged as the wrecker-in-chief with the bat for the Gujarat Titans, amassing 650 runs at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 155.88. He led the Titans from the front, forming a formidable top-order alongside B Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler. 
  • Better IPL 2025 stats than Jaiswal, Leadership qualities: More importantly, Gill outperformed Yashasvi Jaiswal (559 runs in 14 innings, average - 43), his prime competitor in T20I cricket. With Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma claiming the opening slots, India needed a third opener for the Asia Cup. There was a toss-up between Jaiswal and Gill; however, the latter pipped the former in the race due to his superior IPL 2025 numbers and leadership attributes, being appointed as India's vice-captain for the tournament. 

Jitesh Sharma - RCB

Last T20I appearance - India vs Afghanistan, January 14, 2024

How Jitesh Sharma's IPL 2025 performance helped him make T20I comeback?

Criterion
Data
Innings
11
Runs261
Average37.28
Strike Rate176.35

(Jitesh Sharma's IPL 2025 stats)

  • More impactful returns than Jurel: With Sanju Samson playing as India's first-choice wicket-keeper, India were searching for his backup ahead of the Asia Cup. Jitesh Sharma and Dhruv Jurel were the contenders for that slot. While Jurel failed to finish several matches for RR, Jitesh oozed his class for RCB, playing impactful knocks throughout the tournament. Apart from a blistering 19-ball 40* against MI, Jitesh hammered 85* off just 33 balls against LSG, ensuring a top-two finish for his side. Moreover, he also played a blazing 10-ball 24-run cameo in the final that RCB won by a narrow six-run margin. Thus, Jitesh's ability to perform in crunch situations compelled the Indian think tank to reconsider him for T20Is. 
  • Exceptional accelerator in slog overs: Jitesh Sharma's ability to finish the innings was quite evident in the IPL 2025. The explosive batter smashed 160 runs at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 197.5 in the slog overs in IPL 2025. As Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh have blown hot and cold of late, India considered adding depth to their finishing department, and Jitesh's IPL performance helped him pip Jurel in that regard. 

Kuldeep Yadav - DC

Last T20I appearance - India vs South Africa, T20 WC Final, June 29, 2024

How Kuldeep Yadav's IPL 2025 performance helped him make T20I comeback?

Criterion
Data
Innings
13
Wickets15
Average24.06
Strike Rate20.40
Economy7.07

(Kuldeep Yadav's IPL 2025 stats)

  • Regained mojo in IPL 2025: Kuldeep Yadav had a forgettable outing in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa, going wicketless and conceding 45 runs in his four-over spell. But the experienced campaigner played a pivotal role for DC, scalping 15 wickets in 13 matches. His economy of 7.07 suggests how successful he was in controlling the flow of runs in the tournament. 
  • Outperformed Ravi Bishnoi in IPL 2025: Varun Chakravarthy has cemented his place in the Indian T20I team, and Ravi Bishnoi was his backup for the frontline spinner's role before the IPL. However, Kuldeep comprehensively outperformed Bishnoi, who managed only nine wickets across eleven matches. The right-arm spinner conceded more than 44 runs to take a wicket, while his economy of 10.83 prompted India to sideline him and brought Kuldeep back as their designated wrist spinner for the Asia Cup.