The 2025 Asia Cup came to an end on Sunday, with India beating Pakistan to win the title (but not lift the trophy). Here is Wisden's Team of the Tournament.
Abhishek Sharma
314 runs @ 44.85, SR: 200
Had a breakout tournament in India colours. Abhishek reeled off six consecutive 30-plus scores at breakneck speed, only falling for a low score in the final. The numbers do tell the whole story – even though opening was by far the best place to bat in this tournament, he performed at a level no one else could match.
Pathum Nissanka
261 runs @ 43.50, SR: 160
A few years ago, Nissanka was close to being the poster child for negative T20 batting. Now, he’s undoubtedly among the best all-format batters in the world. He saved his best, his maiden T20I century, for the strongest team; even in a second-string lineup, India boasted of their only player with 100 T20I wickets. Sri Lanka may not have made it to the final, but it wasn’t for Nissanka’s lack of trying.
Also read: Why Pathum Nissanka is one of the world's best all-format batters
Saim Ayub
37 runs @ 5.28, SR: 97 | 8 wickets @ 16.00, Econ: 6.40
Perhaps the most controversial selection. It does raise a philosophical question – can you pick a batter who doesn’t score, but takes wickets? Ayub had four ducks in seven innings, and 35 of his 37 runs came in the Super Fours and final against India. But he was excellent with the ball throughout; capable of taking the ball away from both types of batters, Ayub kept the runs down, and the wickets followed. Shubman Gill, Abhishek and Tilak Varma were all among his victims. We'll call him the third spinner in this team – any runs are a bonus...
Tilak Varma
213 runs @ 71.00, SR: 131
The hero of the final, Tilak has now ended up on the winning side 20 out of 20 times that he has stayed unbeaten in a T20 chase. He did have a tendency to get stuck a bit against spin during this tournament, but largely did what was expected of him in the Indian middle order. A strike rate of 130-odd may not look all that impressive, but in a tournament where middle-overs batting was difficult, it’s a solid effort.
Sanju Samson (wk)
132 runs @ 33.00, SR: 124.52
Perhaps an odd choice, given that there were times Samson looked downright uncomfortable after shifting from opening to the middle order. He did get a half-century against Oman from No.3; his innings in the final helped India rebuild; and he was instrumental in them reaching 200 against Sri Lanka in the Super Fours. A good tournament, considering the unfamiliar role. But do India have better alternatives for this position? Perhaps.
Azmatullah Omarzai
89 runs @ 29.66, SR: 217.07 | 3 wickets @ 11.00, Econ: 4.71
Afghanistan didn’t make the Super Fours, but Omarzai did everything to get them there. It was only two innings, but he seemed to finally shed the technically-correct-but-not-very-dangerous reputation as a T20 batter, with 53 (21) vs Hong Kong and 30 (16) vs Bangladesh. His seven overs, mostly with the new ball, also yielded a wicket in each game.
Axar Patel
57 runs @ 57.00, SR: 133 | 6 wickets @ 23.00, Econ: 6.90
Went under the radar. The returns may not be as impressive as others, but Axar was excellent with the ball throughout the tournament, in the Powerplay and middle overs. He had one sub-par knock against Bangladesh, but was good against Oman and solid if unspectacular against Sri Lanka. His 2-26 in the final was also crucial in orchestrating the Pakistan implosion.
Dasun Shanaka
93 runs @ 46.50, SR: 169 | 5 wickets @ 21.00, Econ: 8.18
Arguably the most impactful finisher in the competition. Questions remain over his overall ability and fit in the Sri Lankan T20I side, but he does know how to hit sixes. His 64 off 37 against Bangladesh went in vain, but a quick 22 against India helped take the game to a Super Over. He was a tad leaky with the ball, but ultimately remained good enough to be an option at all times for Charith Asalanka.
More: Explained: The Dasun Shanaka non run-out in the Super Over v India – what the Laws say
Shaheen Shah Afridi
10 wickets @ 16.40, Econ: 6.60 | 83 runs @ 41.50, SR: 177
At the start of the competition, it seemed Shaheen had switched roles with Ayub, as he scored virtually all their runs. His eight sixes were the second-most for Pakistan, and he gradually looked like something resembling his best with the ball as the tournament wore on. His last three games, against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India, yielded seven wickets at 9.3, and an economy rate of 6.5.
Kuldeep Yadav
17 wickets @ 9.29, Econ: 6.27
Time will only tell if Kuldeep can ever play a Test again, but this was a great way to stay in Gautam Gambhir’s thoughts. His 4-7 destroyed the UAE in India’s opener, and his 4-30 decimated Pakistan in the final. He may still be India’s second-choice to Varun Chakravarthy in T20 cricket overall, but certainly not in this Asia Cup.
Also read: Spin-choke or self-destruction? How Pakistan lost 9-33 to gift Asia Cup final advantage to India
Mustafizur Rahman
9 wickets @ 19.00, Econ: 7.43
Bangladesh had a strange insistence throughout the tournament to give “the Fizz” a Powerplay over, instead of back-loading his quota to make use of the surface, and batters swinging with abandon later on. His performances were slightly up-and-down, but the highs were high – 3-28 against Afghanistan sealed a tight defense, and 3-20 against Sri Lanka helped restrict them to 168 in a nervy Super Fours win (eventually).
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