Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi have been named in India’s  15-member squad for the ACC Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup, which will be organised in the 50-over format in Qatar from November 19 to 29. The decision-makers want to test the two in a different format after their exploits in T20 cricket. Both have expressed their ambition to represent the national team across formats. The Rising Stars Asia Cup will give them a chance to show their talent in one-day internationals.

Tilak Varma, who is India’s vice-captain in T20Is, will lead the team and is among several members of the shortest-format team named for the assignment in Doha. Sooryavanshi, Abhishek and Tilak recently played in a five-match T20I series against New Zealand.

Earlier, legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has urged the BCCI and the selectors to try Abhishek, Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan in the ODI format.

“I would love to see him (Abhishek Sharma) in the ODIs, to be honest. I have said this before: if we are not picking players like Ishan Kishan, Abhishek and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in 50-over cricket, then somewhere down the line, we are not doing justice to our talent,” Yuvraj told PTI on the sidelines of the launch of Protocol 32.

“I understand we have some great players and it is hard to make a spot for them. I think the way they are performing, they should be in the squad soon, hopefully. Whatever he has achieved is because of his hard work, and credit goes to him,” he added.

In 13 List A matches, Sooryavanshi has scored 564 runs at an average of 43.38. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December 2025, he amassed 190 off just 84 balls against Arunachal Pradesh in Ranchi.

On the other hand, Abhishek has been a part of 69 List A games, scoring 2196 runs at an average of 33.78 and a strike rate of 100.18. He has hit 4 hundreds and 8 fifties so far.

Rajat Patidar appointed vice-captain

Rajat Patidar will assist Tilak Varma in the tournament. Prabhsimran Singh and Kumar Kushagra are the two wicket-keeper batters. Suryansh Shedge, Shahbaz Ahmed, Vipraj Nigam, Harsh Dubey and Tanush Kotian are the all-rounders, while the fast bowling department comprises Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav and Arshad Khan.

India A, Pakistan A, Nepal and the UAE are in Group B. In Group A, the competition will be between Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A and Hong Kong.

Tilak’s team will play their campaign opener against Nepal on November 20, before facing Pakistan A on November 22.  The final group fixture is against the UAE on November 24.

The top two teams from each group will make it to the semifinals, set to be played on November 26 and 27.

India A squad for Rising Stars Asia Cup

Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Tilak Varma (C), Rajat Patidar (VC), Rinku Singh, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Suryansh Shedge, Shahbaz Ahmed, Vipraj Nigam, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav, Arshad Khan.