Asia Cup 2025 format changed on the day India play their 1st match

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has slammed the level of competition in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, which began on Tuesday, September 9, in the UAE. Ashwin stated that including stronger sides, such as South Africa and an India A team, could make the marquee tournament more competitive.

The Asia Cup 2025 began with Afghanistan facing Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi. India are the favorites to clinch the title in the eight-team tournament. The Men in Blue have won 17 of their last 20 T20Is, following their 2024 T20 World Cup triumph.

Meanwhile, the other participating teams, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, have struggled to make a significant impact against top-tier sides in recent T20 competitions.

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Make It an Afro-Asia Cup to Make the Tournament Competitive - Ravichandran Ashwin

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin said that the Asia Cup 2025 is not an ideal preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2025, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Ashwin stated that the other participants are unlikely to pose any challenge to India.

“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?” Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

This Is Not Some Curtain Raiser for the 2026 T20 World Cup - Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin said that Afghanistan, led by Rashid Khan, are unlikely to challenge India in the Asia Cup 2025. He added that the only realistic chance to beat India would be to restrict them to around 150 and then attempt a chase.

“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,” Ashwin said.

“The only way to defeat India is by somehow restricting them to 155 on a good day, and then chase it down. Normally, a T20 is thrilling but India will likely make even that one-sided in this Asia Cup,” he concluded.

Afghanistan Win Asia Cup 2025 Opener by 95 Runs over Hong Kong

Afghanistan reached the semifinals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, while other top Asian teams failed to finish in the top four of the event.

During the Asia Cup 2025 opener, Afghanistan outplayed Hong Kong. They restricted the visitors to just 94/9 in 20 overs while defending 188, winning the match by 95 runs. Azmatullah Omarzai scored a quickfire fifty and picked up one wicket, earning the Player of the Match award.

India, meanwhile, will begin their Asia Cup 2025 campaign against the UAE in Dubai on Wednesday, September 10. Suryakumar Yadav’s squad, placed in Group A, will also face Pakistan and Oman. Sri Lanka is the defending champion, having won the last T20-format Asia Cup in 2022.

Also read: Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan left-arm pacer announces retirement ahead of India clash