New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday announced India A’s squad for the Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026. Several fresh young talents have been included in the squad, with Tilak Varma set to lead.
Rajat Patidar has been named Tilak’s deputy in the squad.
The Rising Asia Cup 2026 is set to be played in Qatar this year. The tournament, which is hosted by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), is set to get underway on November 19. The final will be played on November 29. A total of eight teams will take part in the tournament.
The eight teams have been divided into two groups of four each. India have been placed in the same group as Pakistan, Nepal and UAE. The top two teams from each group will make it to the semifinals, and the winners of the two semifinals will feature in the final on November 29.
Abhishek, Sooryavanshi included
India’s star T20I opener Abhishek Sharma has also been named in the squad alongside teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The trio of Tilak, Abhishek and Sooryavanshi were part of India’s squad in the recently concluded T20I series against New Zealand.
Rinku Singh, who was a regular for India in T20Is, is also part of the squad alongside Prabhsimran Singh and Kumar Kushagra, who are the two wicket-keeper batters in the team. Prince Yadav and Harshit Rana will lead the pace attack, which also consists of Arshad Khan.
Suryansh Shedge is the only pace all-rounder in the squad, while Shahbaz Ahmed and Vipraj Nigam are the two spin all-rounders in the team. In the last edition of the tournament, Jitesh Sharma-led India A lost against Bangladesh in a Super Over in the semifinals to miss out on the trophy.
India A squad for Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026:
Tilak Varma [C], Rajat Patidar [VC], Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prabhsimran Singh [WK], Rinku Singh, Kumar Kushagra [WK], Suryansh Shedge, Shahbaz Ahmed, Vipraj Nigam, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav and Arshad Khan