The Asia Cup 2025 is nearing its conclusion, with India and Pakistan booking their spots in the final. The continental tournament witnessed eight teams
competing fiercely for glory, with most players showcasing their best skills. For instance, Abhishek Sharma from India opened for the side in the tournament, and performer consistently throughout the season to emerge as the highest run-getter in the competition.
However, not all players were given the opportunity to make an impact, and some were underutilized despite their potential. Here, CricTracker analyses five such players who could have made it to the Playing XI in different roles and played key roles in the side's win(s).
Have a look at 5 players who were underutilized in Asia Cup 2025
5. Sanju Samson
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson was one of the standout players who was underutilized in the tournament. Traditionally an opener, Samson was pushed down the order and asked to bat in multiple positions. This constant shuffling disrupted the Kerala cricketer's rhythm and affected his performance.
To cite an example, in the final group clash against Oman, he played at No. 3 and scored 56 runs, while against Pakistan, he batted at No. 5 and managed only 13 runs. In the Super Fours match against Sri Lanka, he again batted at No. 5, scoring 39 runs. The star wicketkeeper-batter's strength lies at the top of the order, and placing him in unfamiliar positions limited his potential impact.
4. Hasan Ali
Pakistan’s right-arm pacer Hasan Ali was another player who was underutilized. Despite being one of the team’s more experienced T20 bowlers, Ali was not included in crucial matches of the continental competition. With 72 wickets in 57 T20Is at an average of 23 and an economy rate around 8, he could have added value to Pakistan’s pace bowling attack.
His experience and ability to strike in the middle overs could have significantly boosted the Men in Green's chances in key encounters, but he remained on the sidelines for much of the tournament. With only the summit clash against India left to be played, it will be interesting to see if Salman Ali Agha introduces Hasan Ali as Pakistan's trump card in the finale.
3. AM Ghazanfar
Afghanistan’s right-arm spinner AM Ghazanfar also did not get enough opportunities to shine. In the opening fixture against Hong Kong, he bowled only one over, and while he delivered a decent spell against Bangladesh, he did not claim any wickets. As a result, his role in the Rashid Khan-led side throughout the tournament remained limited.
He was subsequently dropped for the last group match against Sri Lanka, a do-or-die encounter, which the Afghans eventually lost. Ghazanfar has time on his side, but giving him more overs could have allowed him to develop his game further while contributing to the team. In fact, it would have also given the side to test him ahead of the all-important T20 World Cup in 2026.
2. Rinku Singh
Indian middle-order batter Rinku Singh was completely left out of the playing XI during the tournament. Rinku, who had an average IPL 2025 season, could have added depth and balance to India’s middle order. He is known for his finishing abilities, and could have played a pivotal role in the latter stages of matches when gaining the momentum was crucial.
However, with Shivam Dube covering multiple roles, Rinku remained sidelined, missing an opportunity to make his mark. Another possible reason behind him being ignored for a chance in the Playing XI could be the demand for an extra spinner on the UAE pitches, as Indians mostly bowled with Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel as the three specialists.
1. Arshdeep Singh
Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was another player whose potential was not fully utilized. He played only two matches in the tournament, against Oman, where he returned figures of 1/37, and against Sri Lanka in the Super Four, where he picked 1/46.
Despite limited opportunities, he impressed in the Super Over against Sri Lanka, conceding just two runs to help the Men in Blue secure an emphatic victory in their last clash of the Super Fours stage. As India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, Arshdeep’s limited use was surprising, as he could have played a more significant role in the Suryakumar Yadav-led side's campaign.
