Suryakumar to lead; Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan in: Flop XI of Asia Cup 2025

Anurag Dasgupta

Asia Cup 2025 flop XI [Source: AFP Photo] Asia Cup 2025 flop XI [Source: AFP Photo]

The Asia Cup 2025 is finally done and dusted, but not before controversies took centre stage. The tournament will forever be remembered for the ugly drama that escalated between India and Pakistan, but it will also be remembered for sluggish performances given by some top Asian players.

With the Asia Cup over, we look at the players who failed to deliver the goods, and we will make OneCricket’s flop XI of the marquee tournament.

Openers

Saim Ayub (37 runs), Shubman Gill (127 runs)

Our openers comprise an India-Pakistan pair and a left-right combination with Saim Ayub and Shubman Gill making the cut in this unwanted list. A lot was expected of Gill, who became the new T20I vice-captain and was slotted in to replace Sanju Samson at the top. However, he had a disappointing Asia Cup 2025, scoring only 127 runs, with an average of 21.

On the other hand, Saim Ayub headed into the tournament as Pakistan’s best hope, but he had a nightmare Asi Cup, scoring only 37 runs and registering four ducks.

Middle order batters

Ibrahim Zadran (30 runs), Suryakumar Yadav (72), Salman Ali Agha (72), Charith Asalanka (75)

An Afghanistan batter, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka’s T20I captain make the middle order list in the flop XI of the Asia Cup 2025. Zadran scored just 30 runs in the three matches that he played, while Suryakumar Yadav, the maverick batter, failed the entire tournament and accumulated only 72 runs.

Salman Ali Agha, the Pakistan captain, also churned out 72 runs, while Asalanka, too, had a forgettable tournament, scoring just 75 runs.

Spin bowlers who flopped

Hasaranga (8 wickets), Dunith Wellalage (1 wicket)

Wanindu Hasaranga did manage to pick up 8 wickets, but against the big teams, he failed to deliver the goods, and most of his wickets came against the weaker opposition. He picked up 7 wickets against the likes of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Pakistan, but against India, he only took a solitary scalp and went for 37 runs.

Moreover, he was average with the bat as Sri Lanka crashed out of Super 4. On the other hand, his teammate, Dunith Wellalage, occupies the second spinner’s spot. He only took a solitary wicket in 2 games, and also had the unwanted record of conceding five sixes in a row against Mohammad Nabi.

Pacers who flopped

Fazalhaq Farooqi (2 wickets), Dushmantha Chameera (7 wickets), Harshit Rana (2 wickets)

Afghanistan’s premium pacer, Fazalhaq Farooqi, had a horrendous tournament as he only managed to pick up 2 wickets in three matches, with an economy rate of 9.10. He is joined by Chameera, who scalped 7 wickets, but none of them came when it mattered, as he was taken to the cleaners by the big teams.

The final pacer is Harshit Rana in the list. The pacer only played two games, but was taken for plenty by the Sri Lankan batters as he almost cost India the match. He bagged 2 wickets, with an economy of 11.28.

Flop XI of Asia Cup 2025

Saim Ayub, Shubman Gill, Ibrahim Zadran, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Salman Ali Agha, Charith Asalanka, Rashid Khan, Dunith Wellalage, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Dushmantha Chameera, Harshit Rana