The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the India A squad for the upcoming ACC Men's Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar, from November 19 to 29. Tilak Varma has been appointed captain of the 15-member squad, while Rajat Patidar will serve as his deputy.

The selection includes several familiar names from India's senior and emerging squads, with Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi among the notable picks. Rinku Singh has also returned to the India A setup, while wicketkeeping duties have been assigned to Prabhsimran Singh and Kumar Kushagra. The tournament will feature eight teams competing across two groups, with the top two from each group progressing to the semi-finals.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma named in India A squad

The BCCI Selection Committee has picked a balanced squad for the continental tournament, combining established domestic performers with young players who have made an impression in recent competitions. Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are two of the biggest names in the selection, giving India A options at the top of the batting order.

Tilak Varma will lead the side after being named captain, while Patidar has been appointed vice-captain. Patidar's inclusion adds experience to the batting group, while Tilak will be expected to guide a squad featuring several players with senior-level experience.

Rinku Singh's return is another notable development in the squad announcement. The left-handed batter is known for his finishing ability and will add depth to the middle order. Prabhsimran Singh and Kumar Kushagra have both been included as wicketkeeping options, giving the team flexibility behind the stumps.

The squad also features Suryansh Shedge, Shahbaz Ahmed, Vipraj Nigam, Harsh Dubey and Tanush Kotian. The pace-bowling options include Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav and Arshad Khan. With a mix of batting depth, all-rounders and bowling choices, India A will look to make a strong impression in Doha.

India A have been placed in Group B alongside Pakistan A, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates. Group A consists of Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A and Hong Kong, China. The top two sides from each group will qualify for the knockout stage.

India A squad for Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026

India A squad: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Tilak Varma (C), Rajat Patidar (VC), Rinku Singh, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Suryansh Shedge, Shahbaz Ahmed, Vipraj Nigam, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav, Arshad Khan.

India's fixtures in Rising Stars Asia Cup

India A will begin their Group B campaign against Nepal on Friday, November 20. The match will be played at the West End Park International Stadium in Doha, giving the team its first opportunity to test its combinations in the tournament.

Their second group fixture will be against Pakistan A on Sunday, November 22, at the same venue. The contest is expected to be one of the key matches in India's group campaign, with both teams aiming to secure a place in the semi-finals.

India A will conclude their group-stage fixtures against the UAE on Tuesday, November 24. This match is scheduled to take place at the University of Doha for Science and Technology.

The semi-finals are scheduled for November 26 and 27, while the final will be played on Sunday, November 29. India A will aim to finish among the top two teams in Group B and progress to the knockout stage.