Rinku Singh is the new vice-captain of the India A squad for the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup after Rajat Patidar withdrew from the side, the BCCI said on Sunday. Patidar told the board he should not be considered for selection in the 50-over format while he manages existing injuries. Ayush Badoni has been added to the squad in his place. Tilak Varma will captain the side in the tournament in Doha, Qatar, from 19 to 29 November.
The original squad was named on 2 November with Patidar as vice-captain, and the change came six days later. Badoni comes into the side after scoring two double-centuries in the Ranji Trophy, and his form with the bat made him the natural replacement. The 15-member squad has a strong look, with several players who have played for the senior side in white-ball cricket. The tournament is a 50-over event, and it gives the younger players a chance to press for higher honours.
India A squad: the change at the top
The full squad reads: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prabhsimran Singh, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Suryansh Shedge, Shahbaz Ahmed, Vipraj Nigam, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav, Arshad Khan and Ayush Badoni. Prabhsimran and Kushagra are the two wicketkeepers in the group. Harshit Rana returns to action for the India A squad in the tournament after an injury suffered at the BCCI centre of excellence in Bengaluru, having been picked subject to fitness for the T20Is against Afghanistan in September.
Who is in the India A squad
Tilak has led the India A squad from the front in recent weeks, having helped India to a 3-2 win in the T20I series against New Zealand. Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rinku Singh and Prabhsimran Singh give the batting order a strong T20 flavour, and the side has depth in both batting and bowling. Shahbaz Ahmed, Vipraj Nigam, Harsh Dubey and Tanush Kotian cover the spin and all-round roles, while Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav and Arshad Khan lead the pace attack.
The India A squad are in Group B with the United Arab Emirates, Nepal and Pakistan A. Group A has Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A and Hong Kong, China. The top two teams from each group will reach the semi-finals, which are scheduled for 26 and 27 November, and the final will be played on 29 November. India A open against Nepal on 20 November, and they face Pakistan A on 22 November, the match that will draw the most attention in the group.
India A squad fixtures in Doha
The tournament runs from 19 to 29 November at venues in Doha, and the BCCI will watch the players closely with an eye on the senior side. A strong showing for the India A squad in Doha would help the players’ case for the senior white-ball squads. For Badoni, the call-up is a reward for his Ranji Trophy runs, and for Rinku, the vice-captaincy is a new role after his time with the senior white-ball side.
The Rising Stars Asia Cup is a 50-over tournament for the next tier of Asian cricket, and the 2026 edition is the latest in a series that has given young players a stage. The BCCI named the first squad on 2 November, and the update on 8 November was the only change before the team travels. The players will have two group matches that matter most: Nepal first, then Pakistan A.
Patidar’s withdrawal is a setback for the player, but the board said he had asked to be left out of 50-over selection while he manages his injuries. The India A squad will travel to Doha before the tournament starts on 19 November, and the first match against Nepal will set the tone for the group stage. India A will want to top the group, and a win over Pakistan A on 22 November would go a long way towards that.