Write News

Vaibhav Suryavanshi set to face Pakistan on November 22; Tilak Verma named captain

Posted on 3rd Nov 2026 12:14 pm by rohit kumar

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 15-member India A squad for the 2026 ACC Men's Rising Stars Asia Cup, with young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, T20I star Abhishek Sharma and middle-order batter Rinku Singh among the prominent names. Tilak Varma will captain the side, while Rajat Patidar has been appointed vice-captain.

 

The tournament will take place in Doha, Qatar, from November 19 to 29. India A have been placed in Group B alongside Pakistan A, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Their group-stage campaign begins against Nepal on November 20, followed by the much-anticipated clash against Pakistan A on November 22. India will face the UAE on November 24.

 

The 2026 edition will be played in the 50-over format, marking a change from the T20 format used in the 2025 tournament. The competition offers emerging players an opportunity to gain experience against international opposition and strengthen their claims for higher-level selection.

 

What Is the Rising Stars Asia Cup?

 

Organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the Rising Stars Asia Cup was previously known as the Emerging Teams Asia Cup. It brings together emerging talent from across the continent through national A teams and other eligible representative sides.

 

An A team generally represents the level immediately below a country's senior national team. These squads give developing and fringe international players the opportunity to compete in a high-level regional tournament, gain experience and demonstrate their ability against players from other cricketing nations.

 

The 2026 competition features eight teams divided into two groups. Group A comprises Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A and Hong Kong, China. Group B consists of India A, Pakistan A, Nepal and the UAE. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, scheduled for November 26 and 27. The final will be played on November 29.

 

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: A Young Batter to Watch

 

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is among the most closely watched names in the India A squad. The left-handed batter has already made headlines with several record-breaking performances despite his young age.

 

Sooryavanshi made his first-class debut for Bihar in the Ranji Trophy in January 2024 at the age of 12 years and 284 days. Rajasthan Royals signed him ahead of the 2025 IPL season, allowing him to make his mark in the world's leading franchise T20 competition.

 

He announced himself in spectacular fashion against Gujarat Titans in April 2025, scoring 101 runs from just 38 balls. At 14 years and 32 days, he became the youngest centurion in IPL history.

 

His 2026 season took his reputation to another level. Sooryavanshi scored 776 runs in 16 matches for Rajasthan Royals at a strike rate of 237.30. He hit 72 sixes, the most by a batter in a single IPL season, and finished with the Orange Cap as the tournament's leading run-scorer.

 

He also produced a memorable performance in the 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup final against England. Sooryavanshi smashed 175 runs from 80 deliveries, helping India secure the title. The innings set a new record for the highest individual score in an Under-19 World Cup final, and he was named Player of the Tournament.

 

His performances have also translated into success in India A cricket. During the 2026 tri-nation A series in Sri Lanka, he scored 211 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 200.95. In the 2025 Rising Stars Asia Cup, he accumulated 239 runs in four matches at an average of 59.75 and a strike rate of 243.88. His tally included a century and 22 sixes, with a highest score of 144. Pakistan A's Maaz Sadaqat topped the tournament's run charts with 258 runs.

 

Sooryavanshi's selection gives India A another explosive batting option ahead of the 50-over competition.

 

Why Have Tilak Varma and Rajat Patidar Been Appointed Leaders?

 

Tilak Varma's experience across domestic, franchise and international cricket makes him an important figure in the India A setup. He has represented India in international cricket and has been a regular performer for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.

 

One of his most memorable performances came in the 2025 Asia Cup final against Pakistan. Tilak scored an unbeaten 69 to guide India to victory in a high-pressure match.

 

Rajat Patidar will serve as his deputy. The Madhya Pradesh batter also captains Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. Under his leadership, RCB won consecutive IPL titles in 2025 and 2026.

 

Patidar scored 501 runs during the 2026 IPL season, providing his team with important contributions in the middle order. He has also led Madhya Pradesh and represented Central Zone in domestic cricket.

 

The leadership combination gives India two experienced batters who have handled captaincy responsibilities at different levels.

 

Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh Add Batting Firepower

 

India A's squad includes several players who have already established themselves in senior international cricket.

 

Abhishek Sharma is one of the leading T20 batters in the world. He reclaimed the No. 1 position in the ICC men's T20I batting rankings in October 2026. His aggressive approach at the top of the order and his ability to score quickly make him a key player for India A. His highest individual score in T20 Internationals is 135.

 

Rinku Singh is another important inclusion. Known for his finishing ability, the left-handed batter became a household name after hitting five consecutive sixes against Gujarat Titans in the IPL in 2023 to help Kolkata Knight Riders complete a dramatic chase.

 

The presence of Abhishek and Rinku gives the team a combination of aggressive top-order batting and middle-order finishing.

 

Prabhsimran Singh and Kumar Kushagra Provide Wicketkeeping Options

 

Prabhsimran Singh and Kumar Kushagra have been selected as wicketkeeper-batters.

 

Prabhsimran represents Punjab in domestic cricket and plays for Punjab Kings in the IPL. He scored 510 runs in 14 matches during the 2026 IPL season, making him another useful batting option for India A.

 

Kumar Kushagra, who represents Jharkhand in domestic cricket, provides an additional wicketkeeping choice and adds depth to the squad.

 

India A's Pace Bowling Options

 

The pace attack includes Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav and Arshad Khan.

 

Harshit Rana has represented India in Test, ODI and T20I cricket. He also played an important role in Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL title-winning campaign in 2024, taking 19 wickets during the season.

 

Prince Yadav, who represents Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, enjoyed a productive 2026 campaign, claiming 16 wickets in 14 matches. He has also made an impact in domestic limited-overs cricket.

 

Arshad Khan adds another left-arm pace option to the squad, giving the team flexibility when selecting its bowling combination.

 

All-Rounders Give India A Balance in Batting and Bowling

 

India A have selected Suryansh Shedge, Shahbaz Ahmed, Vipraj Nigam, Harsh Dubey and Tanush Kotian as all-round options.

 

Suryansh Shedge is a Mumbai batter who can contribute with pace bowling. He made headlines in the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final against Madhya Pradesh, scoring 36 runs from just 15 balls.

 

Harsh Dubey is a left-arm spinner who can also contribute lower down the batting order. Tanush Kotian is an off-spinner who represents Mumbai in domestic cricket.

 

Shahbaz Ahmed provides another left-arm spin option, while Vipraj Nigam offers leg-spin. Their different bowling styles give the team alternatives depending on pitch conditions and opposition combinations.

1 0 Tweet