The former Indian spinner, Maninder Singh, tore into the India A team management after the tactical decision contributed to their exit from the Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025, with the India A side being crashed out of the campaign with the defeat against Bangladesh in the semifinal after they failed to use their brain in the chaotic super over. 

It was a brain-fade moment and a decision by the Indian management not to send their in-form and talented batter, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, as one of the two batters in the semifinal. The left-handed opening batter smashed a fine 38 runs in just 15 balls with the help of two boundaries and four sixes at a strike rate of 253.33.

See Also: Watch: Ben Stokes celebrates 5/23 during opening Ashes 2025/26 Test in Perth

“Still trying to think what the India A think-tank was doing. Why didn’t they send Vaibhav Suryavanshi to bat in the Super Over? Sunil Joshi, the India A head coach, what is he writing now? The ship has already sailed.” Maninder Singh expressed in the commentary box during the semifinal game.

Maninder Singh slams Sunil Joshi for avoiding Vaibhav Suryavanshi in Asia Cup 2025 semifinal

Bangladesh A posted 194/6 in their allotted 20 overs of the first innings of the clash as their opening batter, Habibur Rahman Sohan, smashed a fine knock of 65 runs in 46 balls with the help of three boundaries and five sixes at a strike rate of 141.30. At the same time, SM Meherob nailed an unbeaten knock of 48 runs in 18 balls with the help of six sixes and one four.

In reply, India continued to lose wickets. Apart from Suryavanshi, only Jitesh Sharma looked threatening with the bat as he got 33 runs in 23 balls with the help of two sixes and one boundary at a strike rate of 143.48. Some brainless tactic from Bangladesh pushed the game into the super over.

In the super over, India lost both their batters in the first two balls, while Bangladesh lost their first wicket in the very first ball, before a wide sealed the deal for them as they will take on Pakistan A in the final.

It's the semi-final of the ongoing Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 between India-A and Bangladesh-A (IND-A vs BAN-A). Eyes will be on emerging Indian stars like Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 201 runs, and Naman Dhir. Both of the batters have been in form. Apart from these two batters, the rest of the India-A team is yet to perform as a unit. The semi-final against the Bangladesh-A team can be very tough if the batters of the emerging setup of the Men in Blue misfire today at West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha, Qatar. 

If we talk about the bowling part of the India A team, then it performed more unitedly than the batting department. Gurjapneet Singh is the top wicket-taker currently. Meanwhile, Harsh Dubey and Suyash Sharma have also made contributions. On paper, India-A is ahead of the Bangladesh-A team, though it will be very early to predict the result of the semi-final. Their batting power mostly relied on Habibur Rahman Sohan and captain Akbar Ali. Indian bowlers must try to take their wickets as early as possible. 

Toss Update: 

India A won the toss and have opted to field.

Read More: Watch: Mitchell Starc dismisses well-set Jamie Smith on Day 1 of 1st Test of The Ashes

Playing XIs: 

India A: Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Naman Dhir, Nehal Wadhera, Jitesh Sharma(w/c), Harsh Dubey, Ashutosh Sharma, Ramandeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Gurjapneet Singh, Suyash Sharma

Bangladesh A: Habibur Rahman Sohan, Jishan Alam, Zawad Abrar, Akbar Ali(w/c), Mahidul Islam Ankon, Yasir Ali, SM Meherob, Abu Hider Rony, Rakibul Hasan, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, Ripon Mondol

IND-A vs BAN-A Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 semifinal details: 

Match: BANA vs INDA, 1st Semi-Final (A1 vs B2), ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

Series: ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

Time: 12:30 PM LOCAL, 9:30 AM GMT

Venue: West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha

Stadium: West End Park International Cricket Stadium

City: Doha, Qatar

Capacity: 13,000

Streaming: SonyLIV

TV: Sony Sports Network

Ruturaj Gaikwad is knocking hard on selectors' door to enter into the playing combination of India's main team. He is currently with the India A team, and as expected, he is doing well. In the last two matches, Gaikwad registered a half-century and a century for the India A team. Now, a hidden talent of the batter captured in lenses. 

During a practice season of India A, Gaikwad was spotted playing football with his teammates Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma. Through the video, viewers can see the football skills of the star batter of India. 

Actually not only Ruturaj but also Varma and Kishan showed their talents with a football during a practice season. Those three cricketers were playing one-touch football with each other near the sideline of the ground. While Ishan and Tilak were controlling the ball with their feet, Ruturaj utilized his right shoulder as well to pass the ball. 

Read More: "Still in touch...'- Venkatesh Iyer's comment make sure KKR still can sign him for IPL 2026 season

Ruturaj Gaikwad showed his football-playing skills

Ruturaj playing some football with Tilak and Ishan. 🇮🇳

Rutu has got some Football skills too.🔥pic.twitter.com/oMQCImmX2i

— Pratyush Halder (@pratyush_no7) November 18, 2025

After plying some fine knocks with the Maharashtra cricket team in the ongoing Ranji Trophy team, Ruturaj was named to the India A team and straightaway went to play a couple of matches against the South Africa A team. On November 13, the top-order batter scored 117 runs, and in the following match, against the same opponent, he got an unbeaten 67 in Rajkot. 

Because of Gaikwad's recent form, Indian cricket fans are demanding that the BCCI include him in India's Test team. Shubman Gill is suffering from a neck injury, and as of now, he is uncertain for the India vs South Africa 2nd Test at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. How will they replace Gill if he is unable to play the match? Cricket fans and experts are eagerly waiting to see India's playing XI for the Guwahati Test match. 

A controversial moment took place between the India A vs Pakistan A clash during the Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 clash at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha. The incident took place regarding a relay catch between Nahal Wadhera and Naman Dhir that was ultimately ruled as ‘not out’ by the third umpire. 

India A had set the modest target of 137 runs after experiencing a significant batting collapse, while the opponent opening batters, especially Maaz Sadaqat, were in special touch as he smashed a dominating knock of a 31-ball fifty. As the turning point occurred on the first ball of the 10th over, when Suyash Sharma induced a lofted shot from Maaz towards the deep region.

See Also: Watch: Naman Dhir takes brilliant catch to dismiss Mohammad Naim in IND A vs PAK A Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

Wadhera chased the shot towards the boundary line while being airborne outside the rope. He managed to flick the delivery back into play as Naman Dhir completed what appeared to be a valid catch inside the field. However, the umpires didn’t give the dismissal as Sadaqat continued batting.

Watch: India A denied wicket of Maaz Sadaqat during IND-A vs PAK-A Rising Stars 2025

Once the screen displayed ‘not out’, it stunned the Indian players. Captain Jitesh Sharma immediately clarified the decision with the officials. The decision was based on the significant change of boundary fielding announced by the MCC in June 2025.

 

 

 

 

 

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Law 19.5.2 addressed the confusion around the airborne relay attempts and the multiple touches outside the field of play. The previous rules and regulations would have given it out, but the current ones require all the fielders who touch the ball to meet the specific grounding requirements. A fielder can touch the ball once while airborne outside the boundary.

The controversy deepened when neither a six nor a single run was awarded to the Pakistan Shaheens on the delivery as the batters didn’t cross the crease. Pakistan completed a comfortable chase in the second innings and has qualified for the semi-final of the tournament.

Unlike the last few games between India and Pakistan, whether it’s the Asia Cup 2025 or the Women’s World Cup 2025 in the Dubai International Cricket Stadium or the R Premadasa Cricket Stadium, India showed their dominance with the ball and bat. However, it was not the case during the ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha. 

In the chase of the 137 runs in the second innings of the clash, Pakistan A made a cracking start with the bat as they completed their unbeaten 50-run stand in the fifth over of the fixture as their opener Maaz Sadaqat clubbed a fine undefeated knock of 60 runs in 40 balls with the help of five boundaries and three sixes at a strike rate of 150.

See Also: Watch: Saad Masood gives Naman Dhir brutal send-off during INDA vs PAKA Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

India needed to break the stand, and it belonged to Yash Thakur, who sent back the other opening batter of the side, Mohammad Naeem, as Naman Dhir grabbed a fine catch to end the 55-run opening stand in the sixth over of the innings.

Watch: Naman Dhir takes brilliant catch to dismiss opener in IND A vs PAK A Asia Cup Rising stars 2025

Pakistan A won the toss and decided to bowl first on a surface that has been slow in the first innings for the Indian side. Their 14-year-old left-handed opening batter of the side, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, smashed a fine knock of 45 runs in 28 balls with the help of five boundaries and three sixes at a strike rate of 160.71.

pic.twitter.com/6LD2ET4FUr

— mediaa 🗂️ (@archive_PCT) November 16, 2025

At number three, Naman Dhir, smacked 35 runs in 20 deliveries at a strike rate of 175, shouldering on six boundaries and one six. Harsh Dubey was one of the five double-digit score makers for the Blue Brigade as they got bundled out 136.

Pakistan A’s opening batter, Maaz Sadaqat, smashed an unbeaten 79 runs in 47 balls at a strike rate of 168.09 as they completed the chase by eight wickets in 13.2 overs in the second innings.

Whether it’s at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium or the R Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo or the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha, the clash between the two arch-rivals, India and Pakistan, has been marked by hot clashes between the players.

During the second fixture of the Indian side in the Men’s ACC Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha, the same trend continued as Naman Dhir received a brutal send-off from the off-spinner of the Pakistan side, Saad Masood, who had a hard look at the right-handed batter and asked him to leave the field.

See Also: Watch: Dhruv Jurel's sharp catch dismisses Aiden Markram during IND vs SA 1st Test in Kolkata

It was the fourth delivery of the ninth over when the right-handed batter clubbed the slow delivery from Masood into the hands of the cover fielder, having not got the same elevation he received while punching the shot. Immediately, the spinner looked into the eyes of Dhir and asked him to leave the field.

Watch: Naman Dhir gets brutal sendoff from Saad Masood during INDA vs PAKA Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

Naman Dhir is the upcoming rising star for the Indian side who has been in fantastic touch in various contributions with the bat for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. In the clash against the arch-rivals, the right-handed batter smashed a decent knock of 35 runs in 20 balls at a strike rate of 175 with the help of six boundaries and one six.

Saad Masood with a wicket 👏🏽 #PAKvIND

pic.twitter.com/G3Qh0RhTRp

— Usman (@jamilmusman_) November 16, 2025

In the first innings, India couldn’t put up a decent score with the bat, having been bundled out for 136 runs in 19 overs. Their left-handed young opening batter, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, smashed 45 runs in 28 balls at a strike rate of 160.71, while the second best belonged to Dhir for 35.

In reply, Pakistan completed their 50 runs in the chase during the fifth over of the innings and lost just one wicket of Mohammad Naeem. Maaz Sadaqat was in a prime touch with 56 runs in 36 balls with the help of five fours and three sixes. They were ahead of the clash in the first half and were likely to pocket the game.

After Harshit Rana and Nishant Sindhu crushed the South African batters, the in-form Indian cricketer and star CSK batter comfortably guided India A to chase the paltry 133-run target to secure the series before the last game. 

Nishant Sindhu and Harshit Rana dominated with the ball

South Africa A chose to bat first in the second game of the three-match unofficial ODI series on Sunday (November 16), but the visitors were bundled out for only 132 runs in 30.3 overs. While the left-arm spinner Nishant Sindhu scalped four wickets (4/16), the right-arm fast bowler Harshit Rana shook the top-order batting and claimed three wickets (3/21).

Among the visiting batters, openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius (21) and Rivaldo Moonsamy (33), and the late middle-order batters Dian Forrester (22), Delano Potgieter (23), and Prenelan Subrayen (15) reached double-digit scores. 

See Also: Know updated WTC 2025-27 points table after India’s 30-run defeat against South Africa

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad totally controlled comfortable chasing

In reply, Indian openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma set up a good start with a 53-run partnership for the first wicket. Although Abhishek was dismissed for 32 off 22 balls with six fours, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj continued his strong batting form and had another 82-run partnership with the India A captain Tilak Varma for the unbroken second wicket, as India A chased down the target in just 27.5 overs with the loss of only one wicket. 

Ruturaj, who scored the match-winning century in the last game (117), remained not out for 68 off 83 balls with the help of nine fours. In the meantime, skipper Tilak Varma was unbeaten for 29 off 62 balls with two fours. 

Ruturaj Gaikwad is knocking on ODI door

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is once again knocking on the ODI door. In six ODIs, he has scored 115 runs, including one half-century, as his last ODI appearance was in December 2023 during the South Africa tour. Currently, Ruturaj is one of the in-form batters in Indian cricket, who has also started the domestic cricket season impressively. His List A batting average is 56.93, as the right-handed batter has scored 4441 runs in 87 games, including 17 centuries and 17 half-centuries, and his List A batting strike rate is outstanding 101.34.  

India A bowlers totally dominated the South Africa A batting line-up, who were bundled out for only 132 runs in 30.3 overs. The 21-year-old all-rounder Nishant Sindhu and the 23-year-old right-arm fast bowler Harshit Rana dominated with the ball to crush the visitors at Rajkot on Sunday (November 16).

Trailing the three-match series by 1-0, South Africa A chose to bat first after winning the toss in the second unofficial ODI. Although South Africa A had a better start with a 39-run partnership for the first wicket, they later lost wickets at regular intervals once that opening partnership was broken.

No big scores from South Africa A batters 

Only five Proteas batters managed double-digit scores. Apart from the openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius (21) and Rivaldo Moonsamy (33), only the late middle-order batters Dian Forrester (22), Delano Potgieter (23), and Prenelan Subrayen (15) managed to reach double-digit scores, but all of them failed to make bigger marks.

See Also: Know updated WTC 2025-27 points table after India’s 30-run defeat against South Africa

Nishant Sindhu took 4 wickets, Harshit Rana bagged 3 wickets

The young all-rounder Nishant Sindhu, the left-arm spinner, picked up four wickets, including collapsing the lower-order batting. He finished the innings with the bowling figures of 7-1-16-4.

In the meantime, the right-arm fast bowler Harshit Rana shook the top-order batting, as he dismissed three out of the first four batters of the innings. Rana had the bowling figures of 5-1-21-3.

Also, Prasidh Krishna got two wickets (2/21), and the skipper Tilak Varma (1/12) got one wicket. In the meantime, Arshdeep Singh was wicketless in his four overs (4-0-33-0).  

In the ongoing unofficial ODI series, Nishant Sindhu and Harshit Rana are jointly leading the most wickets table with five wickets each. While India A won their previous match by four wickets with three balls to spare, Rana picked up two wickets in that game, as he had the best bowling figures in that entire match (10-0-49-2). 

India A leveled the record T20I total of the India men's national cricket team with 297/4 against UAE in their opening game of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025. India A opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi and skipper Jitesh Sharma played furious knocks to set a giant T20 total.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi slammed 144 off 42 balls

After India A chose to bat first at Doha on Friday (November 14), Vaibhav Suryavanshi was dropped on the first ball, and the opener utilised that chance really well. Although his opening partner Priyansh Arya was run out for 10 runs in the second over, Suryavanshi dominated the UAE bowlers in style. 

Suryavanshi and Naman Dhir had a 163-run partnership for the second wicket, where Dhir scored 34 off 23 balls with three fours and two sixes, and Suryavanshi dominated with his fiery batting. After recording a 17-ball 50, Suryavanshi completed his century in 32 balls, which was the joint second fastest T20 century by an Indian in men's T20. While it was the joint fifth fastest T20 century in men's T20 history, the 14-year-and-232-day-old recorded the youngest century for a national representative team at the senior level.

Suryavanshi scored 144 off 42 balls before losing his wicket in the 13th over. The left-handed opening batter hit 11 fours and 15 sixes in that furious innings. Although he was dismissed, the India A storm continued as the skipper Jitesh Sharma took that responsibility. 

Twitter Reaction: Vaibhav Suryavanshi celebrates 32-ball century during ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

Captain Jitesh Sharma scored 83 not out off 32 balls

After scoring 50 runs in 24 balls, Jitesh Sharma fired with 83 not out from just 32 balls with eight fours and six sixes. While Suryavanshi had a strike rate of 342.85, Jitesh finished the innings with a strike rate of 259.37.

India A recorded joint fifth-highest T20 total

Those fiery batting performances helped India A to score 297/4 in 20 overs. It was the joint fifth-highest total in the men's T20 history. Previously, India scored 297/6 against Bangladesh in the 2024 Hyderabad T20I. 

India A ultimately won the match by 148 runs after restricting the UAE to 149/7 in 20 overs. Sohaib Khan was the only strong UAE batter in the innings as he scored 63 off 41 balls with three fours and six sixes. Among the India A bowlers, Gurjapneet Singh got three wickets (3/18) and Harsh Dubey picked up two wickets (2/12). 

The young and upcoming sensational left-handed opening batter of the Indian cricket team, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, could have got out on the opening ball of the first innings when he slapped the short ball straight into the hands of the cover fielder, who dropped it and caused a mega disappointment among the UAE side. 

On the opening ball of the 11th over of the innings, the left-handed batter swung his willow to smash the left-arm spinner, Harshit Kaushik, over the long-on for an over boundary. On the following delivery, the 14-year-old clubbed the length ball over the long-off region for a huge six.

See Also: WATCH: Vaibhav Suryavanshi celebrates 17-ball 50 during ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

After the wide, Suryavanshi nailed the spinner over the long-off region for another six before charging the following ball over the long-off end of the park for another over boundary. He smacked the final ball of the 11th over to the deep mid-wicket region for another boundary. Suryavanshi celebrated a fine century in 32 balls after getting to a half-century in just 14 balls of the first innings.

Watch: Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashes 30 runs in an over during ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

India A lost their opening batter, Priyansh Arya, for 10 runs in six balls as he fell short of the crease via a run-out. Suryavanshi smacked 144 runs at the opening slot with the help of 11 boundaries and 15 over boundaries at a strike rate of 342.68. He broke several records in the game.

Pause. Watch. Appreciate. 🤌

14-year-young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has brought book-cricket to life 🤯

Watch #INDvUAE in the #DPWorldAsiaCupRisingStars2025, LIVE NOW on Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV. #SonySportsNetwork #SonyLIV pic.twitter.com/QtHNwDbfj8

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) November 14, 2025

India A’s number three batter, Naman Dhir, smacked 34 runs in just 23 balls at a strike rate of 147.83, thanks to three boundaries and two sixes, while the wicket-keeper batter of the side, Jitesh Sharma, drilled an unbeaten 83 runs in 32 balls at a strike rate of 259.38 with the help of eight boundaries and six sixes.

India A finished with 297 runs on the board for the loss of four wickets in the first innings. Both Muhammad Farazuddin and Muhammad Jawadullah leaked 64 runs each in their four-over spell, while the best economy rate was 0/40 from Muhammad Rohid Khan.