New Delhi, 4 November 2025: The BCCI on Tuesday named the India A squad for the upcoming ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025 (Qatar, 14-23 November), handing the captaincy to wicket-keeper batsman Jitesh Sharma and including prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, just 14, in a clear sign of the board pushing youth hard in the developmental pipeline.
Key Points
- Jitesh Sharma appointed captain of India A for Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025.
- Vaibhav Suryavanshi becomes one of the youngest ever selected for an India A side at age 14.
- Squad features multiple IPL and domestic breakout names like Priyansh Arya, Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir.
- The tournament (Qatar, 14-23 Nov) gives the board an opportunity to test future national-team prospects.
- Selection reflects BCCI’s renewed focus on youth depth ahead of major ICC events.
What happened
The BCCI’s Senior Men’s Selection Committee announced India A’s 15-member squad on 4 November 2025 for the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup. Jitesh Sharma, primarily known as a wicket-keeper batsman, has been handed captaincy duties. Included in the squad is teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who at just 14 years old becomes one of the youngest ever to feature in an India A roster. Other names like Priyansh Arya, Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir, Suryansh Shedge, Ashutosh Sharma and a clutch of bowlers such as Yash Thakur, Gurjapneet Singh and Vijay Kumar Vyshak also make the cut.
Key facts / data
- Venue and dates: Qatar, 14 to 23 November 2025.
- Group opponents: In the preliminary round, India A will face UAE A, Pakistan A and Oman.
- Squad composition: 15 primary players plus five reserves.
- Age highlight: Vaibhav Suryavanshi is 14-years-old at selection.
- Leadership: Jitesh Sharma has captaincy duties.
Statements or reactions
While an official commentary from BCCI on the cap-toss announcement is yet to be detailed publicly, media reports quote selectors emphasising that the Rising Stars Asia Cup is being used as a development platform -“to fast-track talent beyond domestic and Under-19 levels”. Vaibhav’s selection is being described as “a statement of intent” by the board towards youth investment. The inclusion of several IPL-breakout names (such as Priyansh Arya) further underlines that intent.
Current status / What’s next
With the squad finalised, the India A side will assemble shortly for preparatory training ahead of the tournament. Focus areas will include adapting to Qatar conditions and sharpening match-temperament against other Asia-A teams. The selectors will monitor performances closely, and standout individuals could be fast-tracked into senior national contention or considered for India A tours later in the season. For Vaibhav Suryavanshi especially, performance in this event could mark a giant leap in his career trajectory.
Context / Background: Why this matters
The ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup serves as a key bridge between junior cricket and full-national honours, offering emerging players an international competitive stage. In recent years, the BCCI has faced questions around depth and readiness of players beyond the “top 15”. By selecting a squad replete with youthful promise, the board appears to be signalling a shift: invest early, expose widely.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s inclusion is historic. Not only is he unusually young for India A selection, but his domestic and age-group record has already made headlines. His leap to this level punctuates the confidence the system shows in raw talent. For the other young players, this tournament offers a valuable audition: performing well here could propel them into IPL prominence or even senior national radar.
Moreover, with global cricket moving increasingly fast and selections for major tournaments looming, building bench strength is vital for India. The Group stage opponents – UAE A, Pakistan A, Oman – represent a mix of rising associates and full-members’ system teams, giving varied challenge. The exposure and experience gained in Qatar will help India A players adapt to different conditions and pressure-environments.
For Indian cricket fans and analysts, this squad announcement raises several questions: Will Vaibhav address the hype and perform? Can Jitesh Sharma’s leadership bring cohesion? Which of the young faces will emerge as the next breakout star? The answers could shape India’s middle-tier talent pipeline for the next two to three years.
