Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has responded to the announcement of the Indian squad for the Asia Cup 2025, expressing his strong feelings about Axar Patel being replaced as vice-captain. The team will be captained by Suryakumar Yadav, with Shubman Gill now holding the vice-captaincy position. Kaif believes Axar Patel is owed an explanation by the team management.
Axar Patel’s Vice-Captaincy Status
Kaif shared his thoughts on X, stating his hope that Axar Patel was informed about the decision to remove him as vice-captain before it was made public at the press conference. He emphasized that Axar has done nothing wrong and, therefore, deserves an explanation. This reaction stems from the squad selection itself.
Axar Patel’s statistics in the T20I format include 71 matches played, with 535 runs and 71 wickets. The Asia Cup 2025 is set to commence on September 10, and the squad announcement has generated considerable discussion. The absence of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer from the team has also been noted. The tournament will be a T20 event, serving as a crucial preparatory phase for the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2026.
India Squad For Asia Cup 2025
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh