The 2025 edition of Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 28. The eight-team tournament will consist of two groups, each comprising four teams.
While India, Pakistan, UAE and Oman are placed in Group A, Group B features Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.
Ahead of the continental showpiece, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane has picked five players who he feels will create an impact for India.
Rahane hailed Axar Patel as an "underrated player", highlighting how the spin-bowling all-rounder has improved his skill sets in recent years.
“I feel he is a very much underrated player. He has improved as a player, as a cricketer in the last two to three years. He has done really well. Whenever he’s got an opportunity as a batter, as a bowler, he has performed really well for the team. He can bowl with the new ball in the powerplay, he can bowl in the middle phase as well, and if needed, he can bowl in death overs,” Rahane said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
“As a captain, when you have a player like Axar Patel in the team, you are always happy. Let’s not forget about his fielding ability as well. And also, Asia Cup is in Dubai. Most probably, the wickets will favor the spinners. So, Axar’s skill work and also experience will come in handy for the team,” he added.
Rahane believes feels Hardik Pandya's four overs are going to be vital for the Indian side to have good balance.
“Hardik’s role in this Asia Cup will be really important. As an all-rounder, he has done really well for the team in the past. Coming at No. 5 and 6 as a batter, creating that impact, playing with a high strike rate, reading the situation, and playing according to it, he has done it all. I’m sure he can do it again.”
“What I would like to see from Hardik is bowling his four overs for the team. If he can do that, bowl those four overs, the team can actually have a very good balance.”
Rahane also expressed faith in skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s resilience, noting his recovery from a poor England series to shine in the IPL, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer.
“Didn’t have a good series against England, but came back to form in IPL with five fifties and finished as the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with a healthy strike rate. We all know Surya is a dangerous batter. In this format, he has done really well. But it will be interesting to see how he goes about his batting, especially after the surgery.”
“As a captain, he has been fantastic. He is a proactive captain, led the team really well in the past, but I feel, in this Asia Cup, his batting will be really important.”
Rahane also backed pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah to leave a mark in the marquee event. “I really look forward to see Jasprit Bumrah in the Asia Cup. He hasn’t played any T20I internationals this year. but he has been doing really well in the shorter format. his form recently has been really great. He can come in, bowl at any time and create impact, bowl those tight overs and win you those matches. His ability we all know, he’s a match winner but even if Bumrah doesn’t puck up any wickets, he can bowl those tight overs so that others will get that reward. Having Bumrah in your team is always an advantage.”
Rahane is looking forward to seen left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh bowling in tandem with Bumrah.
“I am excited to see Arshdeep Singh bowling with Bumrah. We all know his ability, his skill work. He can swing the ball both ways but also he can bowl those yorkers with the new ball and that’s a very good skill to have. You don’t want to depend every time on Bumrah or any other bowler. Arshdeep can bowl those yorkers, straight yorkers, wide yorkers. As I said earlier also, he can bluff the batsman. he has the slower ball and he has the ability to pick up wickets.”
India will open their Asia Cup 2025 campaign against the UAE on September 10 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
