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.
Team India, under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, will begin their title defence against the UAE on September 10 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Two days ahead of their campaign opener, Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel offered insights into team’s readiness.
“It’s been very hot and sweaty so far, but enjoyable,” Morkel said while speaking to the media on Monday. “We’ve got a very exciting white-ball group here. The buildup has been brilliant, and now it’s about stepping up the intensity. Once these guys put the Indian shirt on, they’ll be ready to go and put in a solid performance for the team.”
“At practice, we make sure we train at a certain level. Once they cross the line, these guys know how to battle.”
Morkel emphasized all-rounder development and fine-tuning bowling combinations with part-time options.
“For me it’s always important to use Shivam as a guy who can bowl four overs,” he explained. “I’m always pushing for all-rounders to work hard on both skills. Sometimes guys can get a little naughty in practice and focus on one. But here we want to leave no stone unturned. On the day, conditions might favour him more than somebody else, and he needs to be ready to deliver.”
“The more guys who can give the captain an over here and there, the better. Yes, we’ll have our frontline bowlers, but those extra options give us flexibility in selection and combinations.”
India’s marquee clash with Pakistan is scheduled for September 14, while they will face Oman in their last group-stage fixture on September 19. The playoffs begin on September 20.
Morne Morkel said the team won’t be taking arch-rivals Pakistan lightly, while prioritising their own game.
“They’ve come a long way with their cricket and have been playing a nice brand of cricket of late. We’re excited for the challenge and definitely won’t be taking them lightly. But for us, the focus is on what we can control – our intensity, our execution. Yes, we’ll analyze their strengths and weaknesses, but at the end of the day, it’s about the brand of cricket we want to play.”
Morkel admitted the recent break was essential after a grueling England tour, comprising five Test matches.
“It was important to refresh and spend time with family. But planning never stops – conversations with fitness trainers, fielding coaches, Gautam (Gambhir) about how to improve players. There’s a lot of cricket coming up, so mentally recharging was key.”
