Published on: Nov 4, 2026 4:33 pm IST|Updated on: Nov 4, 2026 4:33 pm IST
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced a strong-looking 15-man squad for the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026. The tournament is slated to run from November 19 to 29 in Doha, Qatar.
The selection committee has blended experienced international performers with exciting domestic talents, providing several promising players a golden platform to showcase their skills on the continental stage. Middle-order mainstay Tilak Varma has been handed the captaincy responsibilities, while experienced domestic campaigner Rajat Patidar will serve as his deputy. In the last edition of the tournament in 2025, India A’s journey ended in the semifinals when they shockingly lost to Bangladesh A in the first semifinal in a super-over. Pakistan Shaheens were crowned the champions.
The India A batting unit boasts immense firepower, headlined by explosive opening batter Abhishek Sharma and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Both players bring dynamic intent and high-level white-ball exposure, with Abhishek having already established a reputation for aggressive stroke-play at the international level, and Sooryavanshi turning heads through stellar performances in franchise and domestic circuits.
The squad also features dependable finisher Rinku Singh, alongside wicketkeeper-batters Prabhsimran Singh and Kumar Kushagra. The presence of these aggressive and adaptable hitters ensures that the Indian batting order remains formidable through all phases of an innings.
To maintain a balanced structure, the selection committee has packed the roster with versatile all-rounders and specialist bowlers. Players like Suryansh Shedge, Shahbaz Ahmed, Vipraj Nigam, Harsh Dubey, and Tanush Kotian offer multiple bowling options and valuable lower-order batting depth.
Meanwhile, the pace department will be spearheaded by fast bowler Harshit Rana, who makes a much-anticipated return to competitive cricket following an injury layoff. Rana will be supported by lively seamers Prince Yadav and Arshad Khan, providing the team with a healthy mix of sheer pace, variations, and new-ball threat.
The Rising Stars Asia Cup will be played in a 50-over format. India A has been placed in Group B alongside traditional rivals Pakistan A, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Nepal. Group A features Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A, and Hong Kong.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, which are scheduled for November 26 and 27, leading up to the grand finale on November 29. Highlighting the importance of the upcoming tournament and the balance of the selected group, a BCCI release noted:
“The squad features a mix of established international cricketers, emerging talents and promising performers from India’s domestic circuit, offering several players an opportunity to strengthen their claims for higher honours.”
Below is the complete squad for the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026 with Tilak Varma as the skipper and 2-time IPL-winning captain Rajat Patidar as the vice-captain.
India A Squad: Tilak Varma (C), Rajat Patidar (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Rinku Singh, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Suryansh Shedge, Harshit Rana, Shahbaz Ahmed, Vipraj Nigam, Arshad Khan, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Prince Yadav