The Asia Cup 2025 squad announcement has brought a fresh twist for Team India. Reports suggest that Sanju Samson may lose his spot as an opener, with Shubman Gill likely to partner Abhishek Sharma at the top. Gill, who has also been named Team India’s vice-captain, adds depth to the batting lineup.
Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav, popularly known as Sky, will continue to lead India. The Mumbai Indians star remains a key figure in T20I cricket. Once the world’s No.1 T20 batter, Suryakumar still holds the 6th spot in ICC T20I rankings, showing his consistency at the international level. Another young talent, Yashasvi Jaiswal, has climbed to 10th place in the rankings. Although not part of the 15-member squad, Jaiswal has been included among the five reserves for the tournament.
On the global front, South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj has reclaimed the No.1 spot in ODI bowling rankings. The veteran left-arm spinner delivered a brilliant spell of 5/33 against Australia in Cairns, guiding the Proteas to a 98-run win. His match-winning effort lifted him two spots above Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana (No.2) and India’s Kuldeep Yadav (No.3). Maharaj had earlier reached the top during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, and his consistency has kept him in the top five ever since.
South Africa also enjoyed further ranking boosts, with Aiden Markram moving to 21st and Temba Bavuma climbing to 23rd among ODI batters. Elsewhere, West Indies skipper Shai Hope jumped two spots to 7th, while Jayden Seales impressed with 10 wickets against Pakistan, moving up 17 spots to 19th among bowlers. Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed also gained 18 places to reach 43rd.
The Australia vs. South Africa T20I series also impacted the latest T20I rankings. Rising star Dewald Brevis climbed nine spots to 12th among batters, while Australia’s Mitch Marsh (25th) and Glenn Maxwell (30th) also gained positions. In the bowling charts, Nathan Ellis emerged as the biggest mover, breaking into the top 10 at 9th place, while Josh Hazlewood advanced to 18th.
With the Asia Cup 2025 approaching, India’s new opening combination, Surya’s captaincy, and global ranking shifts are setting the stage for an exciting season of international cricket.
