Sanju Samson, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Fazalhaq Farooqi - all part of the Rajasthan Royals squad in IPL 2025 - will be among the star players in action at the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE from September 9 to 28.
Eight teams - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, hosts UAE, Oman, Afghanistan and Hong Kong - will vie for continental honours in the tournament’s 17th edition.
Three of the eight teams - India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan - will feature players who play for the Rajasthan Royals.
Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson has been named in the Indian cricket team’s 15-member squad. He was India’s second-highest run-getter in the T20I series against South Africa last year and is the Royals’ all-time leading scorer with over 4000 runs.
Three more Royals stars - Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal - have been named among India’s standby players for the Asia Cup.
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Sri Lanka will rely heavily on their spin duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, both of whom were joint-highest wicket-takers for the Royals in IPL 2025 with 11 scalps each, alongside Jofra Archer.
Hasaranga also made headlines earlier this year by becoming the fastest bowler to 300 wickets in men’s T20 cricket.
Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi will spearhead his side’s pace attack. He impressed at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where he finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 17 dismissals.
Organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the 17th edition of the Asia Cup will be played in T20I format with the ICC T20 World Cup scheduled in 2026.
India, the defending champions, lead the honours board with eight titles, followed by Sri Lanka (six) and Pakistan (two).
The eight teams are split into two groups - India, Pakistan, UAE and Oman in Group A, and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong China in Group B. The top two from each group will advance to the Super 4s, from which the finalists will emerge.
When and where to watch Asia Cup 2025 live in India
Live streaming of Asia Cup 2025 matches will be available on the SonyLIV app and website. Live telecast will be on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 1 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5, Sony Sports Ten 5 HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 3 HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 (Tamil and Telugu) TV channels in India.
Asia Cup 2025 schedule
As per Indian Standard Time (IST)
Date | Match | Group/Stage | Time |
September 9, Tuesday | Afghanistan vs Hong Kong | Group | 7:30 PM |
September 10, Wednesday | India vs UAE | Group | 7:30 PM |
September 11, Thursday | Bangladesh vs Hong Kong | Group | 7:30 PM |
September 12, Friday | Pakistan vs Oman | Group | 7:30 PM |
September 13, Saturday | Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka | Group | 7:30 PM |
September 14, Sunday | India vs Pakistan | Group | 7:30 PM |
September 15, Monday | Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong | Group | 7:30 PM |
September 16, Tuesday | Bangladesh vs Afghanistan | Group | 7:30 PM |
September 17, Wednesday | Pakistan vs UAE | Group | 7:30 PM |
September 18, Thursday | Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan | Group | 7:30 PM |
September 19, Friday | India vs Oman | Group | 7:30 PM |
September 20, Saturday | Group B Qualifier 1 vs Group B Qualifier 2 | Super 4 | 7:30 PM |
September 21, Sunday | Group A Qualifier 1 vs Group A Qualifier 2 | Super 4 | 7:30 PM |
September 23, Tuesday | Group A Qualifier 1 vs Group B Qualifier 2 | Super 4 | 7:30 PM |
September 24, Wednesday | Group B Qualifier 1 vs Group A Qualifier 2 | Super 4 | 7:30 PM |
September 25, Thursday | Group A Qualifier 2 vs Group B Qualifier 2 | Super 4 | 7:30 PM |
September 26, Friday | Group A Qualifier 1 vs Group B Qualifier 1 | Super 4 | 7:30 PM |
September 28, Sunday | Final | Final | 7:30 PM |
