The BCCI Men's Selection Committee has announced a 15-member India A squad for the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026. Tilak Varma will captain the side, with Rajat Patidar as vice-captain. The tournament runs from November 19 to 29 in Doha, Qatar, and India A open against Nepal on November 20.
India A Squad Structure and Leadership
The squad was announced on November 2 and mixes players with senior India exposure and emerging talent. Tilak Varma leads the group, while Patidar adds experience to the batting core as his deputy.
Rinku Singh has returned to the India A setup, according to Cricaddictor. ESPNcricinfo describes the group as a 50-over squad that includes Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Squad Composition by Role
The 15 players break down into five clear role groups. The table below summarises the balance of the squad.
| Role | Players | Count |
|---|
| Openers | Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 2 |
| Wicketkeepers | Prabhsimran Singh, Kumar Kushagra | 2 |
| Middle order | Tilak Varma (C), Rajat Patidar (VC), Rinku Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Shahbaz Ahmed | 5 |
| Spin options | Vipraj Nigam, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian | 3 |
| Pace options | Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav, Arshad Khan | 3 |
Batters and wicketkeepers make up 9 of the 15 places, which gives the side depth in the top and middle order. The bowling group has 6 specialist options, split evenly between spin and pace.
Tournament Format, Groups and Fixtures
Eight teams will compete across two groups. The top two sides from each group advance to the semi-finals on November 26 and 27, and the final is on November 29.
Group Composition
| Group | Teams |
|---|
| Group A | Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, China |
| Group B | India A, Pakistan A, Nepal, UAE |
Group B has four teams, so India A will play three group matches. Two of them are at West End Park International Stadium in Doha.
India A Group-Stage Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|
| November 20 | Nepal | West End Park International Stadium, Doha |
| November 22 | Pakistan A | West End Park International Stadium, Doha |
| November 24 | UAE | University of Doha for Science and Technology |
The Pakistan A fixture is the middle match of the group stage. Results in the opening game against Nepal could shape the semi-final qualification picture before that contest.
Historical Context
Pakistan are the defending champions. They won the 2025 edition by beating Bangladesh in a Super Over final. India reached the semi-finals that year after a strong group stage but did not win the title.
Key Reference Points
| Metric | Detail |
|---|
| Squad size | 15 players |
| Teams in the tournament | 8 |
| Teams advancing per group | 2 |
| Tournament window | November 19 to 29 |
| India A best finish in 2025 | Semi-finals |
| 2025 champions | Pakistan |
With only two qualification places per group, margins in a three-match group stage will be small. Selection balance across batting, keeping, spin and pace gives India A options for different conditions in Doha.
What to Watch
The Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi opening pairing is a major point of interest. Rinku Singh's finishing role and Tilak Varma's captaincy will also be tested against Pakistan A and the associate sides.
The three-spinner and three-pacer split suggests a flexible bowling attack. Performance data from the group stage will show how well that balance holds up against the semi-final qualification threshold.