Tilak Varma has been named captain of the India A squad for the upcoming Emerging Teams Asia Cup, to be played in Muscat, Oman.
The tournament will be held in the T20 format from October 18 to 27, and Varma will have Abhishek Sharma as his deputy in the 15-member squad. The pair carry international experience, and the squad blends youth with established domestic performers.
Blend of experience and youth
Abhishek Sharma is one of only two players in the squad who featured in the previous edition of the tournament in 2023, which was played in the ODI format; left-arm spinner Nishant Sindhu is the other. The batting line-up also includes Prabhsimran Singh, Ayush Badoni, Nehal Wadhera and Anuj Rawat, with Ramandeep Singh — who produced vital cameos during Kolkata Knight Riders' title-winning 2024 season — also making the cut.
The bowling attack will be helmed by pacer Anshul Kamboj and left-arm spinner Sai Kishore, with Hrithik Shokeen, Rahul Chahar, Vaibhav Arora, Aquib Khan and Rasik Salam providing further options. Sindhu and Kamboj add all-round depth.
Group B and opener against Pakistan A
India A have been placed in Group B alongside Oman, Pakistan A and the UAE, and will open their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan A on October 19. Group A consists of Afghanistan A, Bangladesh A, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka A. This will be the first time the tournament is staged in the T20 format; the five previous editions were played in the 50-over format. India won the inaugural edition in 2013, while Pakistan claimed the title in the last two editions.
Sources: Tilak Varma to lead India in Emerging Teams Asia Cup
The tournament will be held in the T20 format from October 18 to 27, and Varma will have Abhishek Sharma as his deputy in the 15-member squad. The pair carry international experience, and the squad blends youth with established domestic performers.
Blend of experience and youth
Abhishek Sharma is one of only two players in the squad who featured in the previous edition of the tournament in 2023, which was played in the ODI format; left-arm spinner Nishant Sindhu is the other. The batting line-up also includes Prabhsimran Singh, Ayush Badoni, Nehal Wadhera and Anuj Rawat, with Ramandeep Singh — who produced vital cameos during Kolkata Knight Riders' title-winning 2024 season — also making the cut.
The bowling attack will be helmed by pacer Anshul Kamboj and left-arm spinner Sai Kishore, with Hrithik Shokeen, Rahul Chahar, Vaibhav Arora, Aquib Khan and Rasik Salam providing further options. Sindhu and Kamboj add all-round depth.
Group B and opener against Pakistan A
India A have been placed in Group B alongside Oman, Pakistan A and the UAE, and will open their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan A on October 19. Group A consists of Afghanistan A, Bangladesh A, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka A. This will be the first time the tournament is staged in the T20 format; the five previous editions were played in the 50-over format. India won the inaugural edition in 2013, while Pakistan claimed the title in the last two editions.
Sources: Tilak Varma to lead India in Emerging Teams Asia Cup
