The Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 : India A Squad Analysis
India A: IPL Firepower Meets Teenage Prodigy – Squad Analysis
. The Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 is where India’s next generation of white-ball destroyers will be forged under Qatari floodlights. And leading the charge? India A – a squad dripping with IPL pedigree, death-overs muscle, and a 14-year-old opener who’s already rewriting record books.Announced ahead of their Group B opener against UAE today, Jitesh Sharma’s India A is less an “emerging” team and more a T20 franchise on tour. With 8 IPL-contracted players, 3 wicketkeepers, and a bowling attack that swings both ways, this unit is built to dominate Doha’s true bounce and dew-heavy evenings.
Leadership Core: Finisher-Captain + Spin-Savvy Deputy
- Jitesh Sharma (c) † – 32y 13d
Punjab Kings’ death-over assassin. 454 IPL runs @ 153.89 SR. Captaincy debut. Calm, ruthless, glove-sharp. - Naman Dhir (vc) – 25y 308d
Mumbai Indians’ breakout star. 140.47 SR in IPL 2024. Handy offbreak. Tactical brain.
Batting Arsenal: Left-Right Chaos + A 14-Year-Old Phenom
| Player | Role | Age | Powerplay/Death Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | Opener | 14y 222d | Youngest Indian pro contract holder. Blasted 200* (off 140) in U19 Cooch Behar. Left-hand flair. |
| Priyansh Arya | Opener | 24y 47d | 6 sixes in an over (Delhi Premier League). Powerplay destroyer. |
| Abishek Porel † | WK-Batter (No. 3/Finisher) | 23y 18d | 327 runs @ 163 in SMAT 2024. Left-hand clutch. |
| Nehal Wadhera | Top-order | 25y 61d | MI’s middle-order muscle. 6 sixes in 19 balls (IPL). |
| Ramandeep Singh | Middle-order | 28y 205d | KKR’s death specialist. 35* off 17 (IPL 2024). |
Tactical Edge: 4 left-handers in top 6. Spin bowling sides (looking at you, Afghanistan A) will be confused.
All-round Dynamite: Finishers Who Bowl
- Ashutosh Sharma (27y 50d) – Right-hand bat
311 runs @ 166 SR (IPL 2024). 13 sixes in 7 innings. Lower-order nuclear option. - Suryansh Shedge (22y 279d) – Right-hand bat, RFM
189 runs @ 210 SR (SMAT). Seam-up death overs. - Harsh Dubey (23y 104d) – Left-hand bat, SLA
11 wickets @ 14.8 (SMAT). Middle-overs choke.
Bowling Brigade: Swing, Seam, MysteryPace Battery (Death & Yorkers)
| Bowler | Age | Style | Weapon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yudhvir Singh | 28y 52d | RFM | 145 kph. LSG’s yorker machine. |
| Vijaykumar Vyshak | 28y 277d | RM | RCB’s swing + cutters. 4/24 vs CSK. |
| Yash Thakur | 26y 311d | RFM | LSG’s death specialist. 5/30 vs GT. |
| Gurjapneet Singh | 26y 361d | LFM | Left-arm angle + bounce. |
Spin Twins (Middle-Overs Strangle)
- Suyash Sharma (22y 173d) – Legbreak Googly
KKR’s mystery man. 3/30 vs RCB (IPL debut). Skiddy, deceptive. - Harsh Dubey (SLA) – Economy under 6 in SMAT.
Squad at a Glance (15 Players)
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Wicketkeepers | Jitesh Sharma (c), Abishek Porel |
| Top-order Batters | Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Priyansh Arya, Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir (vc) |
| Middle-order/Finishers | Ramandeep Singh, Ashutosh Sharma |
| All-rounders | Suryansh Shedge, Harsh Dubey |
| Pacers | Yash Thakur, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yudhvir Singh, Gurjapneet Singh |
| Spinners | Suyash Sharma, Harsh Dubey |
Tactical Blueprint: How India A Will Hunt the Title
- Powerplay Blitz: Vaibhav + Priyansh = 70+ in 6 overs.
- Middle-Overs Lock: Suyash + Harsh = 8 overs @ under 6 rpo.
- Death Dominance: Jitesh + Ramandeep + Ashutosh = 60+ in last 5.
- Bowling Flexibility: 3 right-arm pacers + 1 left-arm + 2 spinners = no weak link.
Group B Schedule (All at West End Park, Doha)
| Date | Opponent | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Nov | UAE | 4:30 PM |
| 16 Nov | Pakistan A | 12:00 PM (Marquee Clash) |
| 18 Nov | Oman | 4:30 PM |
Top 2 to Semifinals (21 Nov). Final: 23 Nov.
Players to Watch
- Vaibhav Suryavanshi – Will he open? If yes, cricket history awaits.
- Suyash Sharma – Spin-friendly Doha? He’s the X-factor.
- Jitesh Sharma – Captaincy under pressure vs Pakistan A.
Final Verdict:
This isn’t an “A” team. This is India’s T20 future in fast-forward.
With IPL match-winners, a teenage prodigy, and death-bowling depth, India A isn’t here to participate.
They’re here to dominate.
“We bat deep. We bowl smart. We finish strong.” – Jitesh Sharma, Captain
Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 begins today.
India A? They’re not rising. They’ve already landed.Live on Sony Sports | Stream on Sony LIV
