Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed concern about the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, claiming that it lacks competitiveness and cannot serve as a meaningful build-up to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Speaking ahead of India’s first match against the UAE, the 38-year-old outlined the differences between India and the other players.
The T20 Asia Cup 2025 began on September 9 in Abu Dhabi, with Afghanistan defeating Hong Kong by 94 runs in the first match. While Afghanistan impressed with both bat and ball, Ashwin insisted that even their bowling power would not trouble India in a big game. The event included eight teams: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the UAE, Nepal, and Hong Kong. However, India started the competition as favourites, having won 17 of their last 20 T20 internationals since winning the World Cup in 2022.
On his YouTube channel, Ashwin expressed his displeasure with the lack of equality. He suggested that the event be made more significant by including either India’s junior squad (India A) or a team like South Africa.
“They can almost include a South Africa and make it an Afro-Asia Cup to make the tournament competitive. As it is now, they should probably include an India A side for it to be some contest. We’ve not even spoken about Bangladesh. Because there is nothing to talk about with them. How are these teams going to even compete against India?” R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Tournament isn’t some major yardstick for it: Ravichandran Ashwin
He further stated that the Asia Cup could act as a warm-up for the 2026 T20 World Cup, to be hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka
“This is not some curtain raiser for the 2026 T20 World Cup, it’s only a curtain. This tournament isn’t some major yardstick for it. Even against the so-called threat of the Afghanistan bowlers, if India bat well and score 170+, who will Afghanistan chase this down with? It’s nearly impossible. The only way to defeat India is by somehow restricting them to 155 on a good day and then chasing it down. Normally, a T20 is thrilling, but India will likely make even that one-sided in this Asia Cup,” added the former India spinner.
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