India will be entering the Asia Cup 2025 with Suryakumar Yadav as captain and Shubman Gill as vice-captain. Their campaign begins on September 10 against UAE, followed by the high-voltage clash with Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai, and the group stage finale against Oman on September 19. (PTI)
The tournament will be hosted across venues in the UAE, with India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman in Group A, while Group B features Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. (X/@EmiratesCricket)
Ahead of the competition, senior batter Ajinkya Rahane picked five players he believes could have the biggest impact for India: Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh. (PTI)
On Axar Patel, Rahane said: “He is a very underrated player… he can bowl with the new ball in the powerplay, in the middle phase, and even at the death if required.” He highlighted Axar’s versatility as a batter, bowler, and fielder. (AFP)
Rahane stressed that Dubai conditions might favor spinners, making Axar’s ‘skill work and experience’ even more crucial for India’s campaign. (BCCI)
Talking about Hardik Pandya, Rahane pointed out his impact in the middle order, saying: “Coming at No. 5 and 6, playing with a high strike rate and reading the situation, he has done it all.” (X/@hardikpandya7)
He added that Hardik’s bowling is key: “If he can bowl his four overs, the team can actually have a very good balance.”
On skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Rahane noted that though he had a quiet series against England, he roared back in the IPL with five fifties, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer. He said Surya remains “a dangerous batter” whose batting will be vital despite recent surgery. (PTI)
Regarding Jasprit Bumrah, Rahane expressed excitement: “He can bowl at any time and create impact… even if he doesn’t pick up wickets, he can bowl tight overs so that others get the reward.” He described Bumrah as a proven match-winner. (AP)
Finally, on Arshdeep Singh, Rahane said he’s eager to see him pair with Bumrah: “He can swing the ball both ways, bowl yorkers—straight or wide—and bluff the batsman with slower balls.” His wicket-taking ability adds crucial depth to India’s pace attack. (PTI)
