The Asia Cup 2025 came to a solid end with India lifting the trophy after an unbeaten campaign. While the champions displayed collective brilliance, their
campaign also had a few gaps, as not every player rose to the occasion. Even within a winning team, some individuals struggled to find rhythm, raising questions about their form despite the team’s success.
Several teams saw some of their players fail when it mattered most. Whether it was poor performances with the bat, lack of brilliance in bowling, or failure on the field, these lapses proved costly. For teams that failed to progress over the Super Four stage, underperforming individuals were a main reason behind their struggles.
Let's look at 5 players who couldn't justify their Asia Cup 2025 performances
5. Saim Ayub (Pakistan)
Pakistani opener Saim Ayub had one of the worst batting campaigns. Seen as the team's X factor, he managed just 37 runs in seven innings at an average of 5.28, the lowest ever by a top-three batter in the tournament’s history. His campaign included four ducks, with three of them coming in consecutive matches.
Even when demoted down the order to ease the pressure, the southpaw could not deliver. In the final against India, he fell for 14 while trying to cut Kuldeep Yadav. Though he chipped in with the ball, picking up eight wickets with his off-spin, his primary role as a batter was disappointing.
4. Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka)
Charith Asalanka had the responsibility of leading the team, but the tournament turned out to be far from the campaign he would have wanted. As captain, he was expected to guide his team not just with his decisions on the field but also with the bat in hand. Unfortunately, his returns were poor, with the scores of 5, 20, 21, 17, 2, and 10*; he could not rise to the occasion when his team needed him most.
Sri Lanka’s batting collapses and inability to handle crunch situations grabbed attention due to the absence of an impactful innings from their skipper. Asalanka’s inability to convert starts into useful contributions saw Sri Lanka struggling in the Super 4 stage and eventually losing all three games.
3. Salman Agha (Pakistan)
Salman Agha entered the Asia Cup 2025 with the big responsibility of leading Pakistan, but his performances with the bat were below expectations. Across seven matches, he managed only 72 runs at a strike rate of 86.7. In the final against India, with Pakistan needing a captain's knock, Agha once again failed, scoring just 8 off 7 balls. For a captain expected to steady the innings in pressure situations, his inability to take responsibility was evident.
While he spoke of aggressive cricket and scoring at higher strike rates, his own game was more defensive and ineffective. Even his captaincy was less about strategy and more about depending on individual brilliance from others. Pakistan’s middle order needed him to step up, but his repeated failures led to the team collapsing under pressure throughout the tournament.
2. Sanju Samson (India)
Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson is another player from the Indian camp who had a tournament to forget, despite playing every game. Handed the wicketkeeping duties and multiple batting roles, Samson finished with 128 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 124, which was neither impactful nor game-changing.
His 56 against Oman came in a relatively easy chase, while his knock of 24 off 21 balls in the final exposed his inability to lift the team out of trouble. Falling to Abrar Ahmed put India on the back foot. While Samson needed this Asia Cup to strengthen his spot, he couldn't make the most of it. Even his wicketkeeping wasn’t without drop catches or sloppy fielding.
1. Suryakumar Yadav (India)
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav walked into the Asia Cup 2025 as their premier T20 batter. While India lifted the trophy unbeaten, his personal form grabbed attention. Across six innings, he managed only 72 runs, averaging just 18 at a strike rate just above 100. Apart from an unbeaten 47* against Pakistan in the group stage, he struggled to get going, falling for single digits thrice and failing to provide the firepower that is usually expected of him.
Despite experimenting with his batting position and providing flexibility for others, Surya couldn’t find his own rhythm. In the final against Pakistan, he was undone by Shaheen Afridi’s slower ball when India lost an early wicket. Still, as captain, his strategies, energy in the field, and leadership ensured the Men in Blue continued their dominance.
