New Delhi: Former India opener Virender Sehwag has thrown his weight behind the defending champions, expressing complete faith in the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian side ahead of the Asia Cup 2025. With eight teams battling it out in the UAE, Sehwag believes India are not just favorites but the strongest force in this year’s T20-format tournament.
Confident and optimistic, Sehwag reminded fans of India’s dominance on the global stage. “We are world champions. We just won the World Cup, the T20 World Cup, and I am sure we are the best team in the Asia Cup as well. Hopefully, we will lift the trophy again,” Sehwag told the official broadcaster, Sony Sports Network.
Praising Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership, Sehwag highlighted how India has flourished under the flamboyant batter’s captaincy.“SKY is not just a player, he is a game-changer in the T20 format. Whenever he has led the side, India have played fearless cricket and won crucial games. I’m confident that under his captaincy, we will shine again and win this Asia Cup,”Sehwag asserted.
Asia Cup: A Launchpad For 2026 World Cup
For Sehwag, the Asia Cup 2025 is more than just another trophy. He sees it as a testing ground for the future, especially with the T20 World Cup 2026 scheduled in India and Sri Lanka. The tournament, he believes, provides the perfect stage to experiment with fresh talent, bold strategies, and team combinations.
“The Asia Cup is an ideal preparation platform for the 2026 T20 World Cup. It’s a chance to see which young players deserve more opportunities and who can cement a place in the squad. This tournament is not just about winning; it’s about building a team for the future. There’s no better opportunity for India to assess its real strength than this Asia Cup,” Sehwag explained with conviction.
Faith in Selectors and Squad Depth
Amid debates around India’s squad choices, Sehwag stood firmly behind the selectors and the team balance. He emphasized that the combination chosen reflects India’s depth in the T20 format.
“I think we have a very good T20 side. The selectors have done a commendable job, and under Suryakumar Yadav, this team has shown consistency. I’m sure SKY will get the best possible squad, and with the talent we have, there’s every reason to believe we can win the Asia Cup again,” Sehwag concluded.
India begin their Asia Cup 2025 campaign on September 10 against the UAE, before the much awaited clash with arch rivals Pakistan on September 14. All eyes will be on Suryakumar Yadav’s men as they look to defend their crown and carry forward India’s golden run in world cricket.
