India A Squad for Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026: Schedule

India A will feature a strong line-up featuring Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rinku Singh and Abhishek Sharma in the upcoming ACC Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026 in Doha, Qatar. The selectors have named a 15-member squad led by Tilak Varma, with several established domestic and international players included for the tournament scheduled from November 19 to 29.

The squad combines experienced performers with emerging talent, giving India A several options across the batting, bowling and all-round departments. Rajat Patidar has been appointed vice-captain, while wicketkeeping responsibilities will be shared by Prabhsimran Singh and Kumar Kushagra.

India A have been drawn in Group B alongside Pakistan A, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The group-stage matches will provide an opportunity for the Indian side to test its combinations before the knockout rounds, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Tilak Varma to lead India A in Rising Stars Asia Cup

Tilak Varma will captain India A during the tournament, with Rajat Patidar serving as his deputy. The selectors have included several players with experience in major domestic competitions and the Indian Premier League, creating a squad that offers a mixture of established names and younger prospects.

Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh are among the most recognisable players in the batting group. Both have built reputations through their performances in domestic cricket and the IPL, and their inclusion adds experience to India’s middle and top-order options.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is another major name in the squad. The young batter’s selection gives him an opportunity to compete at the continental level and gain further experience against teams from across Asia. His presence alongside experienced players such as Tilak, Abhishek and Rinku makes the batting line-up one of the key areas to watch.

Prabhsimran Singh and Kumar Kushagra have been selected as the two wicketkeeper options. Their inclusion provides the team with flexibility when finalising its playing combination for different opponents and match conditions.

India A squad for ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026

The 15-member India A squad for the tournament features a combination of batters, wicketkeepers, all-rounders and bowling options.

• Abhishek Sharma
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
• Prabhsimran Singh (Wicketkeeper)
• Tilak Varma (Captain)
• Rajat Patidar (Vice-captain)
• Rinku Singh
• Kumar Kushagra (Wicketkeeper)
• Suryansh Shedge
• Shahbaz Ahmed
• Vipraj Nigam
• Harsh Dubey
• Tanush Kotian
• Harshit Rana
• Prince Yadav
• Arshad Khan

The squad includes several all-round options, giving the team management flexibility in balancing its batting and bowling departments. Shahbaz Ahmed, Suryansh Shedge, Vipraj Nigam, Harsh Dubey and Tanush Kotian provide additional choices, while the bowling group also features Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav and Arshad Khan.

India A placed in Group B with Pakistan A, Nepal and UAE

India A have been placed in Group B for the ACC Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026. Their opponents in the opening stage will be Pakistan A, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates.

The group draw sets up an important meeting with Pakistan A on November 22, while the matches against Nepal and the UAE will also be crucial to India’s chances of reaching the semi-finals.

Group A features Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A and Hong Kong, China. The tournament will follow a group-stage format, with each team competing for a place in the last four.

Only the top two sides from each group will qualify for the semi-finals. This means India A will need consistent performances across all three group matches to secure progression to the knockout stage.

India A schedule for Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026

India A will begin their campaign against Nepal on November 20 before facing Pakistan A two days later. Their final group-stage fixture will be against the UAE on November 24.

• India A vs Nepal: Friday, November 20, 2026 West End Park International Stadium, Doha.
• India A vs Pakistan A: Sunday, November 22, 2026 West End Park International Stadium, Doha.
• India A vs UAE: Tuesday, November 24, 2026 University of Doha for Science and Technology, Doha.

The opening match against Nepal will give Tilak Varma’s team its first opportunity to assess its combinations in tournament conditions. The following fixture against Pakistan A is likely to attract particular attention because of the rivalry between the two sides.

India A will then conclude the group stage against the UAE. The result of that match could be important in determining the final Group B standings and qualification for the semi-finals.

Semi-finals and final dates confirmed

The ACC Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026 will run from November 19 to November 29 in Doha, Qatar. The semi-finals are scheduled for November 26 and 27, with the final set to take place on Sunday, November 29.

The top two teams from Group A and Group B will qualify for the semi-final stage. India A will therefore need to finish among the leading two sides in their group to remain in contention for the title.

With Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh included in the squad, India A will enter the competition with a strong group of batting options. The tournament will also offer younger players an opportunity to gain experience in a competitive international environment.

India A target a strong campaign in Doha

The Rising Stars Asia Cup provides an important platform for emerging and established players to represent India A against opposition from across the continent. The selection of a balanced squad suggests that the team management will have several options when deciding its playing XI and tactical approach.

Tilak Varma will have the responsibility of leading the group through a demanding schedule, with Patidar supporting him as vice-captain. The performances of the experienced batters, the contribution of the all-rounders and the effectiveness of the bowling attack will all play a role in India’s campaign.

India A’s immediate focus will be on navigating Group B and securing a semi-final place. With matches against Nepal, Pakistan A and the UAE scheduled across five days, the team will need consistency from the opening fixture to the final group-stage game as it looks to progress towards the November 29 final.