Hardik Pandya is on the verge of touching an incredible feat in the T20I format. He can claim the records in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, where India kicked off their campaign through a one-sided match against the host, the United Arab Emirates.

Hardik went to deliver only one over in the match and remained wicketless. As the target is too small for the Men in Blue, Pandya did not get the opportunity to show his batting skills in Dubai International Stadium on September 10, 2025. India is the defending champion of this year's Asia Cup and has a high chance to retain the title as well.

According to the Asia Cup 2025 format, eight teams are divided into two groups of four. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the next round, which is called the Super Four. From the Super Four round, the two best teams will qualify for the summit clash. Team India's upcoming two matches are against Pakistan and Oman. Cricket fans are early, waiting for the India vs. Pakistan match, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday (September 14). Unlike the India vs. UAE clash, this match can offer a thriller for the audience. 

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Two T20I records Hardik Pandya can claim for India in Asia Cup 2025

According to ICC Men's T20I all-rounder rankings, Hardik is leading the chart. With the bat, he already accumulated 1,812 runs for India in the T20 International format and claimed 94 wickets as well. If he is able to take 6 more wickets, then he will touch the 100 T20I wicket mark. And he is currently only 188 runs away from completing 2,000 runs in the format as a batter as well. Against UAE, the pace bowling all-rounder remained wicketless and had nothing to do with the bat. During the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 encounters, he can get chances to improve his all-round tally.

In T20I batting rankings, he is currently at the 56th position, and in T20I bowling rankings, he is holding the 53rd place. But in the T20I all-rounder rankings, Pandya is on the top. 

India started their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a dominating win over the United Arab Emirates cricket team. Kuldeep Yadav emerged as the wrecker-in-chief for India by clinching 4 wickets in the first innings. UAE bundled for only 57 runs; India wrapped up the match swiftly, in around 30 minutes of the second innings.

After the match, ICC Men's T20I all-rounder rankings started to surface on the internet. Indian pace bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya is on top of the list with 252 points. Interestingly, he is the only all-rounder in the top ten of the list. Axar Patel, another Indian all-rounder, is at the 13th spot of the rankings after losing one place. Though, Hardik's performance against the UAE was not convincing. He was the only bowler who remained without any wicket in the match. Pandya delivered only one over and leaked 10 runs without troubling any batter.

On the other hand, Patel was able to take a wicket. With his spin bowling variations, the spin bowling all-rounder grabbed the wicket of Simranjeet Singh. According to the line chart published on the International Cricket Council's (ICC) official website, Pandya's performance both with the bat and ball has been dropping deep in 2025 in the T20 International format.

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In T20I batting rankings, he is currently at the 56th position, and in T20I bowling rankings, he is holding the 53rd place. But in the T20I all-rounder rankings, Pandya is on the top. Afghanistan's experienced all-rounder Mohammad Nabi is in second place on the ICC T20I men's all-round list with 217 points. Nepal cricket team's Dipendra Singh Airee is in third position with 209 points. 

Top 5 T20I men's all-rounders according to ICC:

1. Hardik Pandya (India)—252

2. Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan)—217

3. Dipendra Singh Airee (Nepal)—209

4. Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe)—207

5. Roston Chase (West Indies)—196

Ahead of India's first match of the Asia Cup 2025, Team India star batter Rinku Singh shared a horrifying incident of his life. After years, he still got goosebumps whenever he remembered the incident. 

A podcast with Raj Shamani, which was released on YouTube ahead of the India vs. UAE Asia Cup match, quickly gained attention from the cricket fans across social media platforms. Rinku said that a monkey bit him repeatedly so badly that his family got worried. It was those days when Rinku and his family were struggling with the financial crisis. The house had no proper washroom, so they had to go outside, in the nearby fields. It was a rainy day when Rinku and his friend went out from the house to go to the field. 

Rinku recalled his friend noticed the monkey first. But it was too late. It attacked Rinku and started to bite again and again on his left arm. The attack was so severe that his arm was bleeding badly; even bones in his left hand near the biceps were visible. 

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The attack from money injured Rinku very much 

"At that time, in the house there wasn’t really a washroom, so we used to go to the fields. It was the rainy season, so I, my brother, and my friend were going, carrying an umbrella. As we were going, someone behind us shouted, ‘The monkey has come.’ Then it came from behind and caught me. I was completely pinned down, and it kept biting me again and again. It tore out a lot of my flesh, a lot. There weren’t many people around to save me. My brother was throwing stones at it, but it wouldn’t leave me. It bit me very badly," the 27-year-old said in the YouTube podcast. 

"My blood was flowing like that, and my bones inside were visible. Then we went to a clinic. When they were doing the dressing, my family was just standing there with me, not knowing what would happen, whether I would survive or not, because a lot of blood was coming out. My bones inside were visible. So my family just carried me there. Somehow they called someone and made contact, saying, 'Come, a monkey has bitten a boy.' Then they came, did the dressing, and only after that I became fine."

The 17th Asia Cup is set to deliver exciting cricket, featuring top Asian nations. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong will battle for regional dominance in the much-awaited T20 competition. The event also serves as an ideal build-up for the ICC T20 World Cup next year.

Team India will begin their campaign on Wednesday with their opening clash against the UAE. The Men in Blue, led by their star-studded lineup, will be aiming to defend their crown and set the tone for the tournament with a strong start. Fans are eagerly waiting to see how the competition unfolds between the continent’s best sides.

To heighten the excitement, Sony Sports Network has put together a star-studded commentary panel. Legendary names like Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Virender Sehwag, and former bowling coach Bharat Arun will provide in-depth, multi-lingual coverage for audiences across the globe.

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Sony Sports Network Unveils Commentary Panel for Asia Cup:

The world feed commentary team for the tournament will feature renowned names like Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Sanjay Manjrekar, Robin Uthappa, Bazid Khan, Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Russel Arnold, and Simon Doull. 

Meanwhile, the Hindi commentary panel includes Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Ajay Jadeja, Abhishek Nayar, and Saba Karim, adding regional flavor for fans. Sony's Chief Revenue Officer Rajesh Kaul said, “ As the Asia Cup returns, Sony Sports Network reimagines cricket broadcasting.”

Bharat Arun will be part of the Tamil commentary panel alongside WV Raman, bringing valuable insights for regional viewers. In the Telugu panel, former cricketers Venkatapathy Raju and Venugopal Rao will feature, ensuring fans enjoy expert analysis and local-language coverage throughout the Asia Cup, enhancing the overall viewing experience for diverse audiences.

Without any doubts, Team India has high chances to win the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, which is scheduled to start on September 9. India will start their campaign the following day. For every department, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee placed multiple talents who can easily fit in the playing XI as well.

On pen and paper, the Men in Blue brigade look unstoppable. But as we know, every coin has two sides—nicely shaped Team India for the Asia Cup can have some setbacks. Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra critically analyzed the squad to find out the crack in the wall. For him, selecting the first XI can be the main issue team management may have to face, as there are too many eligible players to represent the team. Chopra started his discussion, focusing on the chances of Sanju Samson. As Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma are in the squad, Samson may have to play as a middle-order batter. But, as a middle-order batter, Samson's track record is not handsome. In that case, should the think tank drop him from the starting line-up?

"Is there any weakness? In my opinion, you will do an injustice to whoever you make sit out. That's the weakness. It doesn't sound very right, but it is what it is. If you make Sanju Samson sit out, you feel you are doing wrong, as you were making him open consistently and he was doing well. He scored three hundreds in 12 matches," Chopra opined in a video on his YouTube channel. 

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Rinku Singh or Axar Patel?

Like the top-order batting combination, team management has to solve another puzzle to settle the lower-order batting part. Should India play with a bowling all-rounder or with a pure batter like Rinku Singh to add extra firepower?

Raising the issue, Chopra said, "If you make Rinku Singh sit out, you will again feel you are doing wrong. If you are unable to fit in Kuldeep Yadav, it will be a problem. If you are unable to bat Axar Patel up the order, it will seem like you are doing an injustice. So, it's a tightrope to walk. Whatever you do, you can be criticized. That is not a weakness, but this is what it is."

Defending champions India took a significant step towards Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday, creating buzz with an exciting team announcement and unveiling their official preparations for the tournament. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), in collaboration with the Asian Cricket Council, officially unveiled the Men in Blue’s jersey for the tournament. Fans were treated to a lively and engaging presentation that highlighted the team’s new kit.

The jersey launch was shared through a dynamic video montage, generating buzz among supporters and cricket enthusiasts. The presentation not only showcased the design and colors of the uniform but also reflected the energy and spirit of the Indian squad as they gear up for the upcoming competition.

With the official kit now revealed, attention is firmly on the team’s preparations and strategies. The event provided a glimpse of India’s readiness and determination to defend their title and continue their dominance in Asia.

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BCCI Unveils Team India’s Jersey for Asia Cup:

The jersey unveiling coincided with India’s intense practice sessions at the ICC Academy in Dubai, where the Men in Blue have been honing their skills in preparation for defending their Asia Cup title. The team’s rigorous training reflects their focus, discipline, and readiness to take on the challenges of the upcoming tournament.

BCCI shared the launch video across its official social media platforms, featuring players donning the new kit and delivering motivational lines that showcased their pride in representing India. The montage emphasized the squad’s determination to retain the crown while capturing the energy and spirit of the team. 

 

 

 

 

 

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The video’s compelling visuals and message perfectly highlight India’s confidence and commitment heading into Asia Cup 2025. It captioned, "The reigning champions are back!"

The session kicked off with captain Suryakumar Yadav leading by example, setting a focused tone for the team. He said, “The title of Asian champions.” Sanju Samson followed suit, demonstrating his commitment and the competitive spirit within the squad as they prepared for the upcoming challenges in the tournament. Sanju said, “ It’s not something we take lightly.’

All-rounder Hardik Pandya highlighted the importance of the upcoming challenge, emphasizing its significance for the team. He followed up with another inspiring message, motivating his teammates and reinforcing the collective focus and determination needed to succeed in the tournament. He said, “ It’s prestige and honour, we fight for. And we are here to give everything we have got.”

Pacer Arshdeep Singh emphasized the immense responsibility on the team, acknowledging the high expectations from fans and the importance of delivering strong performances in the upcoming tournament. He said, “ Country’s dream – that’s on the line.” 

Captain Suryakumar Yadav wrapped up the montage with a motivating message, inspiring both the team and fans, boosting morale and excitement ahead of the Asia Cup 2025. He concluded, “ Only to be crowned champion once again.”

The jersey launch has sparked enthusiasm among fans, who are eager to see the same passion and energy displayed on the field by the Indian team during the tournament. Supporters hope the vibrant spirit in the video inspires strong performances in every match.

Veteran wrist-spinner Amit Mishra, who recently retired from all forms of cricket, looked back on a funny moment from his early days with the Indian team. Mishra, who made his international debut in 2003 against South Africa in Dhaka, recalled a lighthearted exchange with legendary pacer Javagal Srinath. Speaking in an exclusive interview with RevSportz, Mishra revealed how Srinath jokingly referred to him as a “desi boy.”

“Srinath was very helpful to me. I remember this one time when I entered the team, Srinath told me in his broken Hindi, ‘Aa gaya bhai desi chore. Laya kuch hamare liye? Ghee wagera (The desi boy has come. Got something for us? Like ghee).’ Everyone was very good to me,” Mishra recalled with a laugh. During his early years, he shared the dressing room with icons like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Sourav Ganguly.

When reflecting on his three-decade-long career, Mishra thanked seniors and captains for their support but also stated that he did not always get a fair deal being out of the team for long periods. Nevertheless, he still thanked his seniors and captains, with special mention of Sachin Tendulkar, who used to guide me on whistle while doing practice sessions.

Sachin’s guidance during The Oval stand

One of Mishra’s most memorable batting moments came during the fourth Test against England at The Oval in 2011. Promoted to number five as a nightwatchman, he joined Tendulkar at the crease with India struggling at 118/3. The pair went on to share an 84-run partnership, with Mishra scoring a career-best 84 off 141 balls while Tendulkar fell for 91. “First day went by and I was not out, and the second day, I went to Sachin Paaji and asked him how I was doing. He replied, saying: ‘Just play your normal game, normal shots, don’t think too much about what match it is or who is bowling to you… Just play it like you are playing domestic.’ So I followed his words and once the game started, he himself told me that he could see the confidence in me,” Mishra said.

Watch the video here

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“It was before lunch or maybe after that he again suggested something to me, and that was to take singles and doubles and not play shots against the spinners. The partnership started building and his guidance in between helped me the most,” he added. Mishra’s 84 remains the highest score by a nightwatchman for India in Test cricket. Across his career, he notched four Test half-centuries and an unbeaten double century in first-class cricket, alongside 17 fifties.

The much-anticipated Asia Cup 2025 is just days away, with the tournament scheduled to kick off on September 9. Excitement is building as all teams prepare to put their best foot forward on the continental stage. Defending champions India will start their campaign with Suryakumar Yadav at the helm, leading the side into the Asia Cup 2025.

Upon their arrival in Dubai, the Men in Blue wasted little time in kick-starting their preparations. The squad has gathered at the ICC Academy, a venue known for hosting world-class practice sessions, to fine-tune their skills before the campaign opener. Players have been individually working on their fitness and form, and now come together as a unit.

Their first training session is scheduled to be held under lights, simulating match conditions. This move is expected to help the players adapt quickly to the environment and get comfortable with the pitches in Dubai ahead of their title defense.

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Team India Arrives at ICC Academy for Practice:

A group of Indian men’s cricket team players landed in Dubai on Thursday evening, accompanied by head coach Gautam Gambhir, to kick off preparations for the Asia Cup 2025. Among the arrivals were skipper Suryakumar Yadav and star all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

Abhishek Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, and Sanju Samson later arrived in Dubai to join the Indian squad. Vice-captain Shubman Gill confirmed his presence by posting a picture on social media, seemingly from the team hotel. With the squad assembling, India’s focus now shifts to an intensive camp ahead of their tournament opener in the UAE.

According to a RevSportz report, India’s opening training session is scheduled for 6 PM. The spotlight will be on players adjusting to a change in format. A circulating video shows the squad, along with head coach and support staff, arriving at the ICC Academy, ready to begin preparations ahead of the Asia Cup campaign.

Team India reaches ICC academy in Dubai for 1st Asia Cup training session | First & Exclusive @YaariSports #SportsYaari pic.twitter.com/9NnyNmETWQ

— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) September 5, 2025

The Road for India in Asia Cup:

India is set to kick off their Asia Cup 2025 campaign on September 10 in Dubai against tournament hosts UAE. The tournament kicks off a day earlier with Afghanistan taking on Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi. Following their opener, India meets Pakistan in a highly anticipated clash on September 14, also in Dubai. Their last group-stage match is scheduled for September 19 against Oman, completing their round of fixtures.

Defending champions India are set to kick off their final round of preparations for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 with an intensive practice session on Friday evening at the ICC Academy in Dubai. Scheduled from 6 to 9 pm, the training will mark the squad’s first joint workout ahead of the high-profile event.

Unlike previous editions, the team has not held a preparatory camp in India this time around. Instead, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to have the players gather directly in Dubai to streamline the preparation process.

The move allows the side to make the most of extended practice sessions in conditions similar to those they will face during the tournament. With the competition fast approaching, this setup gives India an opportunity to focus on team combinations, match strategies, and overall readiness before stepping onto the big stage.

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Players Start to Fly to Dubai:

Members of the Indian squad have begun making their way to Dubai in phases ahead of the Asia Cup 2025. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Hardik Pandya are among the early arrivals, while head coach Gautam Gambhir is set to reach from Mumbai on Thursday evening. Vice-captain Shubman Gill will join the team after departing from Bengaluru.

Unlike a collective departure, the players are traveling individually and reporting at different times. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has instructed the entire squad to assemble in Dubai by Thursday evening. With the team complete, full-fledged preparations for the tournament will commence on Friday with a scheduled training session at the ICC Academy.

Asia Cup to Kick off in September:

The Asia Cup 2025 is set to kick off on Tuesday, September 9, with Afghanistan taking on Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi. The tournament promises exciting contests right from the start, with several teams eager to make their mark.

India, the reigning champions, will kick off their campaign on September 10 against UAE in Dubai. Their much-anticipated clash with Pakistan is scheduled for Sunday, September 14, a game that always draws global attention. On September 19, India take on Oman, followed by the playoffs starting September 20, where the best teams will compete for a place in the final.

India's squad:

Surya Kumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh

Standby players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, and Dhruv Jurel

One playing combination, multiple contenders for opening slots. The Indian team management has to solve a puzzle ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, which is scheduled to start on September 9. On the morning of September 4, 2025, a massive update came about India's possible opening pair for the tournament.

For the opening pair, Men in Blue has Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Sanju Samson. Among these three batters, management has to choose only 2 to form a pair. As per the latest reports, Sharma and Gill can open the innings in the T20I competition. These two batters with different batting styles can form an interesting bond at the top of the batting order. Sharma, a left-handed batter with an aggressive nature of batting, and Gill, right-handed, cool, and composed—a possible well-rounded combination India can get.

Now, another question remains: if Abhishek and Shubman are assigned to open the innings, then what will be Sanju Samson's role, who is another opener in the Asia Cup squad? As of now, there is no solid confirmation about Samson's possible role in the tournament. If the board asks Abhishek and Shubman to open, then Samson may have to bat in the middle order, where he has had less success in the past.

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Who will be the number 3 batter?

Number 3 is going to be another interesting position for India in the tournament, where Virat Kohli scored runs for years. With eight titles, India is the most successful team in Asia Cup history; they will compete in the 2025 edition to defend the title. 

Team India Asia Cup 2025 squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, and Rinku Singh.

Reserves: Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.