The countdown to the Asia Cup 2025 has begun, and all eyes are on Hardik Pandya, who is set to undergo a crucial fitness assessment at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru. The 31-year-old all-rounder played a pivotal role in India’s triumphant T20 World Cup 2025 and Champions Trophy campaigns earlier this year. Training in Mumbai since mid-July, Pandya remains central to India’s plans for the tournament starting September 9.
According to The Times of India, Pandya’s assessment will take place on August 11 and 12 at the COE. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer successfully cleared his fitness test between July 27 and 29. Iyer, who recently led Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final after guiding Kolkata Knight Riders to their third title in 2024, hasn’t featured in T20Is since December 2023, raising questions about his Asia Cup selection.
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Captain Suryakumar Yadav will also remain at the COE for another week to regain peak match fitness. The Mumbai Indians star dominated IPL 2025, amassing 717 runs and winning the Most Valuable Player award, finishing just behind Gujarat Titans’ Sai Sudharsan (759 runs) in the run charts.
Hardik Pandya set to undergo a routine fitness assessment on today & tomorrow at NCA ahead of the Asia Cup selection. [Pratyush Raj from TOI] pic.twitter.com/FSQ1s0CL9V
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 11, 2025
Since Rohit Sharma’s T20I retirement after the 2024 World Cup win, Suryakumar has led India to 17 victories in 22 matches, making an impressive start to his captaincy tenure.
Adding to the excitement, Shubman Gill is likely to be named India’s T20I vice-captain for the Asia Cup, as reported by RevSportz. Gill’s IPL consistency has been phenomenal, with 890 runs at a strike rate of 157.80, 426 at 147.40, and 650 at 155.88 over the last three seasons.
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With Pandya’s fitness, Iyer’s comeback hopes, and Gill’s potential promotion, India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad announcement promises high drama and anticipation for fans across the cricketing world.
