The countdown for the Asia Cup 2025 has begun. The tournament will start on 9th September and will be played in two UAE cities — Dubai and Abu Dhabi. For this tournament, Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as the captain of the Indian team, while Shubman Gill has been named the vice-captain.
Along with them, players like Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah are also part of the squad.
India has been placed in Group A alongside the UAE, Pakistan, and Oman. Team India will begin its campaign on 10th September against the UAE. Ahead of the tournament, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag picked three players who, in his opinion, could be the game-changers for India in the Asia Cup.
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Virender Sehwag Names Potential Game-Changers
In a conversation with Sony Sports, Virender Sehwag selected three players who he believes could turn the tide for India in the tournament. He picked pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, young batter Abhishek Sharma, and mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy. Surprisingly, he did not include vice-captain Shubman Gill in this list.
Sehwag said: “I believe Abhishek Sharma can prove to be a game-changer. Jasprit Bumrah has always been known for changing matches with his bowling. Varun Chakaravarthy, with his mystery spin, has already impressed in the Champions Trophy and the T20 format. These are the players who can single-handedly win matches for India.”
Sehwag on Workload Management
Sehwag also shared his thoughts on workload management: “I think workload management is crucial, especially for bowlers. For batters, I don’t think workload is a major issue because they can play regularly and don’t have to participate in too many matches. But for bowlers, especially fast bowlers, proper management is very important.”
He further added: “If managed well, they can play for a long time. For India, it is critical that all the fast bowlers remain fit, because in big tournaments like the Asia Cup or the World Cup, their availability increases India’s chances of winning.”