Jitesh Sharma Leads Promising Squad with Naman Dhir as Deputy; IPL Standouts and Domestic Stars Ready for Doha Challenge.

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The India A squad has been finalized for the upcoming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Rising Stars Asia Cup, a T20 tournament formerly known as the Emerging Teams tournament. Scheduled to be played in Doha from November 14 to 23, the team will be led by wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma, with Naman Dhir serving as his deputy. This marks an important opportunity for India’s emerging talent to compete at a high level.

The selection committee has compiled a strong squad featuring a mix of players who have shone in the high-pressure environment of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and solid performers from the domestic circuit. IPL mainstays like Ramandeep Singh, Abishek Porel, Suyash Sharma, Ashutosh Sharma, and Nehal Wadhera lend significant experience. Furthermore, the inclusion of Priyansh Arya and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who debuted in the 2025 IPL season, highlights the focus on nurturing future prospects. Complementing this group are established domestic talents such as Harsh Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Yash Thakur, Gurjanpreet Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Yudhvir Singh. Captain Jitesh Sharma is the only player in the squad with recent international exposure, having participated in the senior T20I series in Australia just prior to this tournament.

The tournament structure divides the eight participating nations into two groups. Group A consists of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka, while Group B features India, Oman, Pakistan, and UAE. The event kicks off with the match between Pakistan A and Oman, but all attention is geared towards the highly anticipated clash between India A and Pakistan A on November 16.

This fixture carries an added layer of significance as it represents the first men’s cricketing exchange between the two nations since the senior Asia Cup in September. That particular tournament was notable for its chilly atmosphere, with no handshakes or greetings exchanged between the senior teams. The tension culminated after India won the championship; the team declined to receive the trophy from the ACC chief, Mohsin Naqvi, who is also a Pakistani parliamentarian and the chairman of the PCB. This resulted in the trophy being awkwardly removed from the dais after a long delay, underscoring the deep-seated political and sporting friction that continues to affect the relationship between the two cricketing boards. The performance of these emerging players, therefore, will be scrutinized not just for cricketing skill, but as a barometer for the sporting conduct between the rivals.