Why Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Will Not Be Able To Play Asia Cup 2025?

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to Miss Asia Cup 2025: Reasons and Implications

The Indian cricket team will be without their star batters, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 later this year, marking a significant change in the squad.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Asia Cup 2025 Timeline:
  The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has announced the tentative timeline for the Asia Cup 2025 to take place in September.
• India’s Hosting Rights:
  Originally, India was set to host the Asia Cup. However, due to the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, the ACC has decided to opt for a neutral venue for the tournament.
• Venue Options:
  As India and Pakistan have a long-standing policy of not playing in each other’s countries, the ACC is reportedly considering Sri Lanka or the UAE as potential venues for the tournament. This move follows the precedent set during the Champions Trophy 2025, when India played their matches in Dubai despite Pakistan being the official host.
• Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Retirement:
  Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have announced their retirement from T20I cricket following India’s victory in the T20 World Cup 2024, which was held in the USA and West Indies. Along with them, Ravindra Jadeja has also retired from the T20I format. However, the trio will continue playing in Tests and ODIs for India.
• Suryakumar Yadav to Lead India in T20I:
  With Rohit Sharma’s retirement, Suryakumar Yadav (SKY) will be captaining the Indian team in his first multi-team tournament as the new T20I skipper.
  • Suryakumar has proven himself as a leader, with an outstanding record of 18 wins from 23 games, translating to a win percentage of 78.26%.
  • This will be his first major leadership role in a multi-team tournament after taking over from Rohit, who was previously expected to continue as captain.

The absence of these senior players will certainly create a gap, but it also offers an opportunity for new talent to rise and showcase their skills on the international stage.