Asia Cup 2025 finalists announced

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has predicted that India and Sri Lanka could contest the final of the 17th edition of the Asia Cup. Chopra said that Sri Lanka have a well-balanced squad and added that he wouldn’t be surprised if the team performed well enough to reach the summit clash alongside India.

The Asia Cup 2025 will take place in the UAE from September 9 to 28. A total of eight teams will compete in the T20I format across two venues in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Sri Lanka, led by Charith Asalanka, are placed in Group B alongside Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong for the continental tournament.

It Could Be an India-Sri Lanka Final in Asia Cup 2025- Aakash Chopra

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra backed Sri Lanka to perform well in the Asia Cup. He predicted that India and Sri Lanka could feature in the Asia Cup 2025 final clash.

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“They do have an all-condition kind of squad. Sri Lanka are a good team, and I will have to back them to qualify. I won’t be surprised if they play so well that they reach the final. It could be an India-Sri Lanka final. That is also a possibility, provided we and they play well," Chopra said.

Sri Lanka have a strong record in the Asia Cup, having won the title six times. They clinched the championship in the 2022 T20I edition and reached the final in 2023, where they were defeated by India in the ODI format.

The Squad Is Looking Well-Balanced - Aakash Chopra on Sri Lanka

Aakash Chopra said that Sri Lanka have a well-balanced squad for the Asia Cup. He stated that the team has all-rounders, plenty of fast-bowling options, and a spin attack that could prove very useful in the UAE.

“The squad is looking well-balanced, where all the bases are covered, whether it’s Pathum Nissanka with Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka in the middle. If we talk about all-rounders, you will see a plethora of them. They have got plenty of options in fast bowling. The spin department can be very useful in the UAE. So they are a very well-balanced team," he added.

They May Not Be a Team Full of Superstars - Aakash Chopra

The cricketer-turned-commentator said that Sri Lanka can become a superstar team despite not being full of individual superstars. He added that the mix of anchor and attacking batters strengthens the batting lineup.

“This team’s specialty is that they may not be a team full of superstars, but they can become a superstar team. They have a fantastic mix of anchors and attacking batters. Pathum Nissanka can play both ways. They have got aggressive batters and Kamindu Mendis as well," Chopra added.

Charith Asalanka will lead Sri Lanka in the upcoming tournament. Experienced players like Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, and Dasun Shanaka have been included in the batting lineup, while all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga and young pacer Matheesha Pathirana will strengthen the bowling attack.

Hasaranga sustained a hamstring injury during a T20I against Bangladesh in July and missed the subsequent series against Zimbabwe. He has taken 131 wickets in T20Is at an economy rate of 6.98. The leg-spinner also missed some IPL 2025 matches due to injuries.

Also read: Sanju Samson or Jitesh Sharma? Wicketkeeper batter finalized for Asia Cup 2025