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.”
What Is The Schedule For 2025 Asia Cup?
| DATE | DAY | GROUP | TEAM 1 | TEAM 2 | VENUE |
| September 9 | Tuesday | B | Afghanistan | Hong Kong | Abu Dhabi |
| September 10 | Wednesday | A | India | UAE | Dubai |
| September 11 | Thursday | B | Bangladesh | Hong Kong | Abu Dhabi |
| September 12 | Friday | A | Pakistan | Oman | Dubai |
| September 13 | Saturday | B | Bangladesh | Sri Lanka | Abu Dhabi |
| September 14 | Sunday | A | India | Pakistan | Dubai |
| September 15 | Monday | A | UAE | Oman | Abu Dhabi |
| September 15 | Monday | B | Sri Lanka | Hong Kong | Dubai |
| September 16 | Tuesday | B | Bangladesh | Afghanistan | Abu Dhabi |
| September 17 | Wednesday | A | Pakistan | UAE | Dubai |
| September 18 | Thursday | B | Sri Lanka | Afghanistan | Abu Dhabi |
| September 19 | Friday | A | India | Oman | Abu Dhabi |
| September 20 | Saturday | Super Fours | B1 | B2 | Dubai |
| September 21 | Sunday | Super Fours | A1 | A2 | Dubai |
| September 23 | Tuesday | Super Fours | A2 | B1 | Abu Dhabi |
| September 24 | Wednesday | Super Fours | A1 | B2 | Dubai |
| September 25 | Thursday | Super Fours | A2 | B2 | Dubai |
| September 26 | Sunday | Super Fours | A1 | B1 | Dubai |
| September 28 | Tuesday | Final | Dubai |
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)
