Vaibhav Suryavanshi Gets Asian Games Call-Up, Suryakumar Misses Out

Brief By Newsbrief / 6:31 PM on 31 May 2026

Preparations for the Asian Games 2026 are underway, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) submitting a provisional list of 30 players to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for the cricket competition scheduled in Japan later this year.

The biggest talking point from the squad is the inclusion of 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who impressed cricket fans with his explosive performances during the IPL 2026 season. His selection highlights the selectors’ growing focus on young talent and long-term planning.

Meanwhile, current T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav and India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill have not been included in the provisional list. The decision is largely linked to scheduling conflicts, as India’s tour of the West Indies overlaps with the Asian Games cricket tournament. India are scheduled to play three ODIs and five T20Is against the West Indies between September 27 and October 17, while the Asian Games men’s cricket competition will run from September 24 to October 3.

With selectors expected to manage two separate squads, several players have emerged as potential captaincy candidates for the Asian Games side. These include Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma.

The provisional squad also features major names such as Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Spin options include Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.

The squad reflects a blend of youth and experience as India aims to defend its status as one of Asia’s strongest cricketing nations and compete for another gold medal at the continental event.