Shreyas Iyer’s Spot in India’s Continental Tournament XI: A Tough Call

### Quick summary:
– The Indian team for the Asia Cup 2025 is expected to be announced in the third week of August.
– BCCI is reportedly assessing player availability before finalizing the 18-member squad.
– Key position battles include identifying Sanju Samson’s backup as Rishabh Pant is unlikely to feature.
– Shreyas Iyer, who scored 604 runs at a strike rate of 175.07 in IPL 2025, may not make it into India’s starting XI due to a settled top four consisting of Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav. Hardik Pandya appears locked in at No. 5.
– There are concerns about Suryakumar Yadav’s fitness; he may spend an additional week at the NCA to recover fully before the tournament.

### Indian Opinion Analysis:
The asia Cup squad announcement brings clarity on India’s strategic planning as they prepare for crucial matches. Shreyas Iyer’s record-breaking IPL performance poses a strong case for his inclusion but highlights India’s challenge balancing individual brilliance with established roles within the team structure. While his potential benching suggests depth in India’s batting pool with top-order stability,unresolved concerns around Suryakumar Yadav’s fitness present a tactical dilemma requiring flexibility from selectors and captains alike.

The readiness of key players like SKY will substantially influence squad decisions and match outcomes during this high-stakes tournament-crucial readiness ahead of upcoming global competitions like the T20 world Cup.

[Read More](https://www.republicworld.com/cricket/asia-cup-2025-why-shreyas-iyer-may-struggle-to-fit-into-india-s-best-playing-xi-for-the-continental-tournament)