Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma has been named captain of the India A squad for the upcoming ACC Rising Stars T20 Asia Cup, set to be held in Doha from November 14 to 23. The tournament, earlier known as the Emerging Teams Asia Cup, will feature the next generation of cricketing talent from across the continent.
Naman Dhir has been appointed vice-captain, while the squad also features a mix of promising young talent and proven domestic performers, including Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Suryansh Shedge, and Abishek Porel.
One of the biggest talking points is the inclusion of 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who continues to make rapid strides through India’s age-group cricket system. His selection explains his absence from the ongoing Under-19 Challenger Trophy, which typically serves as a selection platform for the Under-19 World Cup squad.
The Ajit Agarkar-led senior selection committee has put together a squad that blends youth with IPL experience. Among the most notable names is Priyansh Arya, who had a breakout season in IPL 2025, scoring 475 runs at a strike rate of 179.24 — the third-highest for his franchise behind Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh. Arya also made his first-class debut for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy last week.
Other key contributors include Abishek Porel, currently leading Bengal in the absence of Abhimanyu Easwaran, and allrounder Harsh Dubey, who has been a consistent feature in recent India A squads.
The pace attack features Gurjapneet Singh, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yudhvir Singh, and Yash Thakur, all part of the BCCI’s targeted fast-bowling program. Ramandeep Singh and Suryansh Shedge add all-round depth with their seam-bowling options.
The Rising Stars T20 Asia Cup will open on November 14 with Oman facing Pakistan A, while India A will begin their campaign the same day against UAE A. The highly anticipated India A vs Pakistan A clash is scheduled for November 16.
This event marks the first men’s cricketing engagement between India and Pakistan since the 2025 Asia Cup, which concluded controversially when India declined to receive the trophy from ACC President and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
India A Squad for Rising Stars T20 Asia Cup 2025
Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir (vice-capt), Suryansh Shedge, Jitesh Sharma (capt, wk), Ramandeep Singh, Harsh Dubey, Ashutosh Sharma, Yash Thakur, Gurjapneet Singh, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yudhvir Singh, Abishek Porel (wk), Suyash Sharma
Stand-by players: Gurnoor Brar, Kumar Kushagra, Tanush Kotian, Sameer Rizvi, Shaik Rasheed
With a mix of exciting young talent and IPL-proven performers, India A will look to assert their dominance in Doha and continue the country’s strong track record in ACC’s developmental tournaments.
