Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has slammed the level of competition in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, which started in UAE on Tuesday, September 9. Ashwin said that South Africa and an India, including strong sides like a team, can make the Marki tournament more competitive.
The Asia Cup 2025 began with Afghanistan, which faced Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi. India is a favorite for winning the title in the eight-team tournament. In Blue, men have won 17 of their last 20 T20s after their 2024 T20 World Cup Triumph.
Meanwhile, other participating teams, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have fought to make a significant impact against top level sides in recent T20 competitions.
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Make it an Ephro -Asia Cup to make the tournament competitive – Ravichandran Ashwin
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin said that the Asia Cup is not an ideal preparation for the 2025 ICC T20 World Cup 2025, which has been co-dominated by India and Sri Lanka. Ashwin said that other participants are unlikely to challenge for India.
“They can include almost one South Africa and make it an Energ-Asia Cup to make the tournament competitive. As it is now, they should probably include an India to have some competition. We have not even talked about Bangladesh. Because there is nothing to talk to them. How these teams are competing against India too?” Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
This is not a curtain for 2026 T20 World Cup – Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin said that Afghanistan, under the leadership of Rashid Khan, is unlikely to challenge India in the Asia Cup 2025. He said that the only realistic opportunity to defeat India would have to be limited to about 150 and then try to chase a one.
“This is not with some curtains for the 2026 T20 World Cup, it is only a curtain. This tournament is not some major yardsticks for it. Even against the so -called threat of Afghanistan bowlers, if India bats well and scores 170+, is it less impossible?”
“The only way to defeat India is to limit them to 155 on a good day somehow, and then chase it. Generally, a T20 is thrilling, but India will probably make it unilateral in this Asia Cup,” he concluded.
Afghanistan win Asia Cup 2025 opener scored 95 runs from Hong Kong
Afghanistan reached the semi -finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, while the other top Asian teams failed to finish the top four of the incident.
During the Asia Cup 2025 opener, Afghanistan defeated Hong Kong. He limited the visitors 188 to just 94/9 in 20 overs, winning the match by 95 runs. Azmatullah Omrajai scored a Quickfire fifty and took a wicket, earning the Player of the Match award.
India, meanwhile, will launch its Asia Cup 2025 campaign against UAE in Dubai on Wednesday, September 10. Suryakumar Yadav’s squad kept in Group A will also face Pakistan and Oman. Sri Lanka is the defending champion, which has won the final T20-format Asia Cup in 2022.
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