Top 3 retired cricketers who could have dominated Asia Cup 2025

As the Asia Cup 2025 moves into the final week, cricket fans have witnessed an exciting display of competitive cricket in this year’s tournament held within the United Arab Emirates. The playing conditions have offered challenges, with slow pitches testing the patience and shot selection of batters, while bowlers have bewilderingly struggled at times to contain ferocious, attacking batting units. Through these challenging conditions, the competition has given us some spectacular performances, thrilling moments of battle between bat and ball, and some potent signs of evolving modern day cricket at a high pressured continental stage.

As several promising young stars have risen and made their impact on the tournament, one must wonder how some retired cricketing greats would have performed given the conditions. Indeed, it would have been exciting to see some of their experience and skill and how their match winning abilities could of have brought an even higher level of excitement and skill in this tournament. Even thinking hypothetically about the potential influence of these legendary players, reveals a nice perspective into how some of the games greatest players would have affected the potential outcome of games, in the ultra-competitive Asia Cup 2025;

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3. Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan, the legendary all-rounder from Bangladesh, rounds out the legends who potentially could have made an impact in the Asia Cup this iteration. Famous for his dual value, Shakib has long been a game-changer with the bat at the crease and still has the ability to break crucial partnerships with his left arm spin. He provides stability to Bangladesh at the crease while scoring runs under pressure. After a successful career, he has been the mainstay of Bangladesh cricket, turning the tide of a match through experience and skills. 

The providing presence of the Dhaka-born star would have also shifted the gravity of the Asia Cup 2025 as he could have provided leadership and needed experience to the campaign. He had the ability to disrupt momentum with either discipline; a valuable piece to enhance Bangladesh’s chances against heavier competition. More importantly, Shakib’s tutelage would also lend a significant hand in the growth and development of younger players in the squad. Recently hanging up his hat with white ball formats, Shakib's absence is palpable, particularly with his all-round brilliance adding serious contention towards the continental crown for Bangladesh for this season. 

2. Rohit Sharma

Another great of Indian cricket is Rohit Sharma, who retired from T20 internationals after leading India to victory in the much-heralded 2024 T20 World Cup. A well-known aggressive top order batsman, Rohit has often been a match-winner for India across many Asia Cups. He has scored a multitude of runs (271) in just nine innings and has a strike rate of over 140, which regularly gives India a great start to their innings. He is cool and calm by nature but has the ability to 'shift gears' when necessary, which has made him one of India's greatest and most consistent limited overs match winners.

While young opener Abhishek Sharma had a great T20 World Cup in 2025 boasting aggressive and cavalier scoring just under a 200 strike rate, Rohit would have brought great value. His experience at reading conditions and bowlers would have been invaluable for India in pressure moments. He has a good track record of punishing more loose deliveries while on the biggest of stages, and could have potentially developed into the most feared batter in this Asia Cup and made hitting at the top for India formidable. 

1.Virat Kohli

Former Indian captain and T20 legend Virat Kohli is among the players who could have left a huge imprint on this year’s Asia Cup. Though retired from T20 internationals and unavailable for selection, his incredible record in the tournament remains unmatched. Across T20 Asia Cup editions, Kohli has amassed 429 runs in just nine innings at a phenomenal average of 85.80, making him the highest run-scorer in the competition’s history. His dominance in this format has often set the tone for India’s success on the continental stage.

Kohli’s batting style, combining aggression with precise calculation, made him nearly impossible to contain in Asian conditions. His ability to both anchor an innings and accelerate at the right moment consistently put opposition bowlers under pressure. In the UAE’s testing pitches, his composure and skill would have been invaluable for India’s campaign. Beyond his batting, Kohli’s presence alone would have provided stability, belief, and match-winning capability qualities that could have set him apart from the younger talents shining this season.