Former captain Sourav Ganguly feels the Indian men’s cricket team would be the favourites for the upcoming T20 Asia Cup in Dubai starting September 9.
“They are in the middle of a break. After the IPL, they played five Tests and now they will play the Asia Cup from September 9,” Gangul was quoted as saying by PTI.
“India are very strong, and if they are strong in red-ball cricket, they are even stronger in white-ball cricket. So, in my opinion, India are favourites, and beating them on those good Dubai wickets will be very tough.”
Schedule for 2025 Asia Cup
September 9 Tuesday: (Group B) Afghanistan vs. Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi
September 10: Wednesday (Group A) India vs. UAE in Dubai
September 11: Thursday (Group B) Bangladesh vs. Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi
September 12: Friday (Group A) Pakistan vs. Oman in Dubai
September 13: Saturday (Group B) Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi
September 14: Sunday (Group A) India vs. Pakistan in Dubai
September 15: Monday (Group A) UAE vs. Oman in Abu Dhabi
September 15: Monday (Group B) Sri Lanka vs. Hong Kong in Dubai
September 16: Tuesday (Group B) Bangladesh vs. Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi
September 17: Wednesday (Group A) Pakistan vs. UAE in Dubai
September 18: Thursday (Group B) Sri Lanka vs. Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi
September 19 Friday (Group A) India vs. Oman in Abu Dhabi
September 20: Saturday Super Fours B1 vs. B2 in Dubai
September 21: Sunday Super Fours A1 vs. A2 in Dubai
September 23: Tuesday Super Fours A2 vs. B1 in Abu Dhabi
September 24: Wednesday Super Fours A1 vs. B2 in Dubai
September 25: Thursday Super Fours A2 vs. B2 in Dubai
September 26: Sunday Super Fours A1 vs. B1 in Dubai
September 28: Tuesday Final in Dubai
Sri Lanka is scheduled to play its first match against Bangladesh on September 13.
India will play its Asia Cup Group A games against UAE and the high-stakes clash against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 10 and 14, respectively, while its match against Oman is scheduled at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on September 19.
India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman are in Group A, while Group B consists of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. This is the first time the Asia Cup, held in the T20I format to prepare teams for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, will feature eight teams.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Fours stage, with the top two facing each other in the title clash in Dubai on September 28. India are the defending champions of the Asia Cup, having beaten Sri Lanka in the 2023 final held in the 50-over format in Colombo. Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup in the T20I format after defeating Pakistan in the final in 2022.
(With inputs from Agencies)
