Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Tilak Varma headline India A’s 15-member squad for the upcoming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026, with Tilak appointed captain by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The squad was announced on Monday with Rajat Patidar named vice-captain. The tournament will be held in Doha, Qatar, from November 19 to 29. The selection brings together several players with senior international experience and emerging performers who have attracted attention through domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League. Abhishek and Sooryavanshi are among the key batting options, while Tilak will be responsible for leading the team through the group stage and the knockout rounds.
The inclusion of Abhishek and Sooryavanshi is among the major highlights of the selection. The two left-handed batters recently featured together for India in the T20I series against New Zealand, where their aggressive approach at the top of the order attracted attention. Sooryavanshi, who has emerged as one of India’s most closely followed young batting prospects, will get another opportunity to compete in an international tournament. Abhishek, meanwhile, brings experience from the senior Indian team and is expected to provide attacking options in the opening position. Their selection also gives the India A management an opportunity to assess their combination in a competitive tournament ahead of future international assignments.
Tilak’s appointment as captain places him at the centre of the campaign. The left-handed batter has already represented India at the senior international level and brings experience in the T20 format. Patidar, who has also played for India, will serve as his deputy. The squad includes Rinku Singh, Prabhsimran Singh and Kumar Kushagra, providing additional batting depth and wicketkeeping options. Prabhsimran and Kushagra have both been selected as wicketkeepers, giving the team flexibility when finalising its playing combination. Suryansh Shedge, Shahbaz Ahmed, Vipraj Nigam, Harsh Dubey and Tanush Kotian complete the group of all-rounders and spin-bowling options, offering the team several combinations across the middle order and bowling department.
The pace attack features Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav and Arshad Khan. Rana’s selection is particularly notable as the tournament will mark his return to competitive cricket after an injury interrupted his previous international campaign. He last represented India in the T20I series against England before being ruled out midway through the assignment. His inclusion gives him an opportunity to regain match rhythm and demonstrate his fitness in a tournament environment. Prince Yadav, who recently featured in India’s T20I assignments against the West Indies and New Zealand, has also earned a place. The selection committee has therefore included a mix of players with recent international exposure and those looking to establish themselves at the next level.
India A have been placed in Group B alongside Pakistan A, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Group A consists of Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A and Hong Kong, China. Each team will compete in the group stage, with the top two sides from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The knockout matches are scheduled for November 26 and 27, while the final will take place on November 29. India A will begin their campaign against Nepal on November 20 at the West End Park International Stadium in Doha. They will then face Pakistan A on November 22 at the same venue before taking on the UAE on November 24 at the University of Doha for Science and Technology.
The tournament will provide India A with an opportunity to test its depth against teams from across the continent. The presence of established international players alongside younger prospects is expected to make the competition an important platform for assessing talent and combinations. Players such as Abhishek, Tilak, Rinku and Patidar bring experience, while Sooryavanshi and other emerging names will be looking to use the tournament to strengthen their claims for future opportunities. For Rana, the competition also offers a chance to return to action after his injury setback. With the squad confirmed and the schedule announced, India A will begin preparations for its opening match against Nepal on November 20.