NEW DELHI– As the Men’s T20 Asia Cup gets underway Tuesday in the United Arab Emirates, two of Indian cricket’s biggest names — Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri — are backing skipper Suryakumar Yadav to lead a new-look India with both flair and authority.
The 17th edition of the tournament brings together eight teams — India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong — in a month-long contest that also doubles as preparation for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. India opens its Group A campaign against host UAE on September 10 before high-profile clashes with Pakistan on September 14 and Oman on September 19. The top teams from the group stage will move into the Super Four round, with the final slated for September 28 in Dubai.
Gavaskar, in remarks shared by Sony Sports Network, praised both Yadav’s leadership and the squad’s versatility. “As Team India steps onto the Asia Cup stage under the dynamic leadership of Surya Kumar Yadav, we witness a blend of tenacity and experience steering the side. Surya’s ability to inspire through his innovative batting and captaincy complements the other members of the team,” he said. “This squad symbolizes the future of Indian cricket — diverse, versatile and combative. The Asia Cup offers them a platform not just to defend India’s supremacy but to lay the foundation for a new era of Indian dominance in T20 cricket.”
Shastri, who coached India from 2017 to 2021, echoed that sentiment, calling the team a balance of proven match-winners and emerging stars. “With Surya leading from the front and Shubman Gill mastering the art of youthful leadership as vice-captain, this Indian squad exemplifies the perfect mix of experience and potential,” Shastri said. “Players like Jasprit Bumrah, Abhishek Sharma, and Hardik Pandya bring international class, while talents like Tilak Varma and Harshit Rana add spark and depth. Under Surya’s calm yet aggressive captaincy, I believe this team will rise to the occasion and set new benchmarks for Indian cricket.”
The Asia Cup marks India’s first T20I action since its 4–1 series win over England at home in January. The event will be carried live on Sony LIV, with a heavyweight commentary lineup including Sanjay Manjrekar, Robin Uthappa, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Bazid Khan, Simon Doull, and Russel Arnold. Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu feeds will also be available, featuring former Indian internationals Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Ajay Jadeja, WV Raman, Venkatapathy Raju, and others. (Source: IANS)
