The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named a 15-member India A squad for the ACC Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026 in Doha, Qatar, from November 19 to 29. Tilak Varma will captain the side, with Rajat Patidar appointed vice-captain. The selection includes senior T20I players Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh, along with teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
The BCCI’s official announcement dated November 2 said the Men’s Selection Committee had finalized the squad. The Indian Express reported the selection at 6:22 pm IST, while Hindustan Times and Outlook India published further details later on Monday.
Full India A squad for the Rising Stars Asia Cup
- 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 has two designated wicketkeeping options in Prabhsimran Singh and Kumar Kushagra. It also combines players with senior international experience and younger prospects who will have an opportunity to compete in a continental tournament.
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India A was placed in Group B with Pakistan A.
India A is in Group B alongside Pakistan A, Nepal, and the United Arab Emirates. Group A comprises Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A, and Hong Kong, China. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for November 26 and 27. The final is set for November 29.
India will open its campaign against Nepal on November 20 at West End Park International Stadium. The team will meet Pakistan A at the same venue on November 22 before playing the UAE on November 24 at the University of Doha for Science and Technology.
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Harshit Rana returns; Harsh Dubey earns selection.
Hindustan Times reported that the tournament will mark Harshit Rana’s return to competitive cricket after an injury layoff. The BCCI announcement confirms his place in the squad but does not provide a separate medical update or a fitness assessment.
Harsh Dubey’s selection came on the same day that he took nine wickets for 53 runs in a Ranji Trophy innings for Vidarbha. The Times of India reported that the performance set a new record for a Vidarbha bowler in the competition. The BCCI release did not state that the Ranji spell was the reason for his selection.
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The Rising Stars Asia Cup is a separate ACC competition for emerging and second-string national sides, rather than the senior men’s Asia Cup. India A’s group includes Pakistan A, giving the team a high-profile fixture during the preliminary round, but qualification will depend on results across all three group matches.
The BCCI has published the squad and fixture list. Any later changes arising from injury, availability, or tournament regulations would require a separate announcement from the board or the Asian Cricket Council.
Sources: Board of Control for Cricket in India (2 November 2026);