ODI auditions? Sooryavanshi, Abhishek named the team for the 50-overs tournament in India

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma will get an opportunity to showcase their credentials in the 50-over format after being named in India’s 15-man squad for the ACC Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup to be played in the ODI format in Doha, Qatar from November 19-29.

The selection of India’s two most explosive T20 batsmen is an interesting development, especially as Sooryavanshi has expressed his ambitions to represent the country in all three formats. The teenager has previously spoken about adapting his batting to the demands of ODI cricket and the Rising Stars Asia Cup will offer him an opportunity to showcase that versatility.

Tilak Varma will captain the team and is one of several T20 regulars named for the 50-over engagement in Doha. Tilak, Sooryavanshi and Abhishek were part of it recently completed T20I series in New Zealand.

The selection comes days after the former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh urged the selectors to add Sooryavanshi, Abhishek and Ishan Kishan in ODI squad.

“I would like to see him (Abhishek) in ODIs to be honest and I have said it before that if we are not selecting people like Ishan Kishan, Abhishek and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in 50-over cricket then somewhere along the line we are not doing justice to their talent,” Yuvraj told PTI.

Sooryavanshi has already shown considerable promise in List A cricket. In 13 matches, the Bihar batsman has scored 564 runs at an average of 43.38. His standout performance came in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December 2025 when he smashed 190 off just 84 balls against Arunachal Pradesh in Ranchi. He became the youngest batsman to score a List A century and also scored the fastest 150 in the format.

This will be Sooryavanshi’s second appearance at the Rising Stars Asia Cup. He was part of India’s campaign in the previous edition in November 2025 when the tournament was played in the T20 format. India A were knocked out in the semi-finals after losing to Bangladesh A in the Super Over after a drawn match. Sooryavanshi scored a brisk 38 off 15 balls in this match.

Abhishek, meanwhile, brings considerable experience in the 50-over format. The left-handed batsman played 69 List A matches, averaging 33.78, with four centuries to his credit.

CAPTAIN TILAK, HIS DEPUTY RAJAT

Tilak was appointed party captain and Rajat Patidar was appointed as his deputy. Prabhsimran Singh and Kumar Kushagra are the two wicket takers in the team. The all-rounders include Suryansh Shedge, Shahbaz Ahmed, Vipraj Nigam, Harsh Dubey and Tanush Kotian while Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav and Arshad Khan complete the bowling options.

India A were placed in Group B alongside Pakistan A, Nepal and UAE. They will begin their campaign against Nepal on November 20 and face Pakistan A on November 22. Their last group game will be against the UAE on November 24.

The top two teams from each group qualify for the semi-finals, which are scheduled for November 26 and 27. The final will be played on November 29. Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A and Hong Kong, China form Group A.

INDIA 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, Vigam, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Harshit. Ranapraj, Prince Yashad, Ranapraj

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