Former opener Virender Sehwag has identified three players who he believes will be India’s top match-winners in the Asia Cup 2025: Abhishek Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Varun Chakravarthy. Suryakumar Yadav will lead a 15-member squad in Team India’s campaign opener against the UAE on September 10.
India’s Asia Cup squad consists of both young and veteran players. Suryakumar is the captain, with Shubman Gill as his deputy, and the team also features Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Rinku Singh. The Men in Blue, who are in Group A with the UAE, Pakistan, and Oman, are hoping to get off to a solid start as they defend their continental crown. However, Sehwag highlighted three names who, he believes, have the ability to impact games on their own.
He was very effective in the Champions Trophy: Virender Sehwag
Sehwag’s first pick was young opener Abhishek Sharma, who made his debut in July 2024. Currently ranked No. 1 in the ICC T20I batter rankings, the southpaw is known for his fearless approach and ability to dominate from the very first over.
“I think Abhishek Sharma can be a game-changer,” Sehwag said on Sony Sports.
The second name on the former’s list was ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah. The right-arm quick’s fitness has been a topic of discussion in recent months, especially after workload management limited him to just three Tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. He also missed the Champions Trophy due to a back issue. However, Bumrah is India’s most lethal weapon with the ball. In IPL 2025, he bagged 18 wickets in 12 games at an economy of 6.67.
“Bumrah is always a game-changer,” he added.
At last, he went for Varun Chakravarthy, who could be the X-factor with his mystery spin. Since his comeback, Chakravarthy has been in outstanding form, leading the wicket charts against Bangladesh and later dismantling England in a five-match T20I series earlier this year, where he was named Player of the Series. With 33 wickets in his last 18 T20Is at an economy of just over seven, he has become a regular member of the T20I squad.
“Varun Chakravarthy, with his mystery bowling, was very effective in the Champions Trophy and in the T20 format as well. So, these are some game-changers for India who can win matches on their own,” he concluded.
India
