The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that the five standby players for India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad—Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel—will not accompany the main team to Dubai. The Suryakumar Yadav-led Men in Blue are set to begin their Asia Cup campaign on September 10 against the UAE in Group A, followed by matches against Pakistan on September 14 and Oman on September 19. Shubman Gill has been named vice-captain of the 15-member squad announced earlier this month.
A BCCI source told PTI, “No, the standby players will not be travelling with the main squad to Dubai.” This marks a departure from traditional practice, as players will now travel to Dubai directly from their respective cities, rather than first assembling in Mumbai.
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A senior BCCI official, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained the reasoning behind the decision: “All players will arrive in Dubai by the evening of September 4, and the first net session is scheduled for September 5 at the ICC Academy. Considering logistical convenience, players will be allowed to fly directly from their respective cities. While a few may travel from Mumbai, asking others to first come to Mumbai and then fly to Dubai doesn’t make sense. Dubai is a short flight compared to other international journeys.”
Meanwhile, several Asia Cup-bound cricketers are participating in the ongoing Duleep Trophy 2025. Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana are representing North Zone against East Zone in the quarterfinals that began on Thursday, while Kuldeep Yadav is playing for Central Zone against North East Zone.
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This active participation ensures players maintain form and match practice ahead of the continental tournament. With the Asia Cup fast approaching, the BCCI’s strategic travel plan aims to minimise fatigue, allowing India’s core squad to focus entirely on preparation and acclimatisation at the ICC Academy before the opening clash.
