India clear favourites to win Asia Cup in UAE, Sourav Ganguly says

Dubai: Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly believes India will be the team to beat at the upcoming T20 Asia Cup, set to take place in the UAE from September 9 to 28.

"India are currently on a break. After the IPL, they played five Test matches and now they’ll head into the Asia Cup. They’re a very strong side — already dominant in red-ball cricket, and even more formidable in white-ball formats. On the good wickets in Dubai, beating India will be very difficult," Ganguly told Indian media.

The 2025 T20 Asia Cup will feature eight teams, with Group A comprising India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B includes Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. India, the official host for this edition, will kick off their campaign against UAE on September 10, followed by matches against Pakistan and Oman. The tournament will open with Afghanistan facing Hong Kong on September 9, and the final is slated for September 28.

Addressing media speculation regarding the possible final ODI appearances of Indian stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma during the upcoming Australia series in October, Ganguly said he wasn't aware of any such discussions.

“I haven’t heard anything about that, so I can’t really comment,” he stated. “But performance is what matters most. If they’re playing well, they should continue. Kohli’s one-day record is outstanding, and so is Rohit’s. Both have been phenomenal in white-ball cricket.”

India’s three-match ODI series in Australia begins on October 19, with games scheduled in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney. The team will also host South Africa for three ODIs in December. The 2026 calendar includes series against New Zealand, Afghanistan, England, the West Indies, and another against New Zealand.

Kohli and Rohit announced their retirement from T20 internationals following India’s T20 World Cup triumph in Barbados in June 2024. In a surprise move, both also stepped away from Test cricket within a week of each other in May, just ahead of the England tour squad announcement.

Ganguly also expressed confidence in new Test captain Shubman Gill, praising the young batter’s leadership abilities. “He’s India’s Test captain now, and his future looks very bright,” Ganguly said. The 25-year-old recently led India to a thrilling victory in the final Test against England at The Oval, leveling the five-match series 2–2.