The ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026 is where Asia's next generation gets a proper stage, with selectors watching every match.

This year it is in Doha, Qatar, from November 19 to 29, 2026, and the 2026 edition is a 50-over tournament, after the 2025 edition was played in the T20 format.

For fans in India, the story is simple. India A are grouped with Pakistan A, Nepal and the UAE, play from November 20 to 24, and the knockouts follow on November 26, 27 and 29. Fans looking for a companion source to track fixtures and scores will find plenty of coverage alongside the official updates, and cricbet99 IDis one name that appears in that kind of fan conversation around the tournament.

What Is the Rising Stars Asia Cup?

The tournament was formerly called the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup. It is a competition for rising players: A teams from the leading Asian boards, plus emerging teams that have earned their place through the regional pathway.

Young players who dominate domestic cricket get a chance here against international opposition in foreign conditions. It is the step between domestic cricket and full international cricket, which is why senior selectors follow it closely.

Format Change: 50 Overs This Year

In T20 cricket, one big over can change a match. In 50-over cricket, weaknesses are exposed over time: openers must survive the new ball and build, middle-order batters must rotate strike through quiet spells, and bowlers must hold a plan for ten overs, not four.

For India A, the change suits a squad full of players with one-day domestic experience. For emerging teams, it is a sterner test, because 50 overs demand depth across the whole side.

The Eight Teams and Two Groups

Eight teams take part, split into two groups of four. The top two from each group reach the semi-finals, so every group match counts, and net run rate could decide who goes through.

Group A

• Bangladesh A
• Sri Lanka A
• Afghanistan
• Hong Kong, China

Group A looks balanced: Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. A strong domestic structure, Afghanistan Bring a spin-heavy attack, and Hong Kong and China are the underdogs, though one upset can change a short group.

Group B

• India A
• Pakistan A
• Nepal
• UAE

Group B is where most Indian fans will focus. India A against Pakistan A is the headline fixture, while Nepal and the UAE are both capable of a surprise. Only two sides advance.

Tournament Schedule and Venues

The tournament runs from Thursday, November 19, to Sunday, November 29, 2026, at two venues in Doha: the West End Park International Cricket Stadium and the University of Doha for Science and Technology ground.

The knockout schedule is set, even though the pairings are not. The semi-finals are on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27, and the final is on Sunday, November 29. Pairings will only be known once group play ends.

India A Fixtures: Dates, Times and Venues

India A vs Nepal

• Date: Friday, November 20, 2026
• Time: 1:00 pm local time, 3:30 pm IST
• Venue: West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha

India is open against Nepal and will want to win well. Nepal has grown steadily as a white-ball side, so this is not a fixture to take for granted, and a strong start helps the net run rate.

India A vs Pakistan A

• Date: Sunday, November 22, 2026
• Time: 1:00 pm local time, 3:30 pm IST
• Venue: West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha

This is the match everyone circles first. India A against Pakistan A always carries extra edge, because both squads are full of players pushing for senior selection. The winner takes a huge step towards the semi-finals.

India A vs UAE

• Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2026
• Time: 9:00 am local time, 11:30 am IST
• Venue: University of Doha for Science and Technology ground, Doha

India closed the group against the UAE in the morning slot. This could be a straight shootout for a semi-final place, and the earlier start could suit India A's pace attack.

India A's matches against Nepal and the UAE carry List A status, according to reporting around the tournament.

India A Squad: The Full 15

Tilak Varma captains the side, with Rajat Patidar as vice-captain. The squad blends proven domestic performers with some of the most talked-about young names in Indian cricket.

India A Squad

• Abhishek Sharma
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
• Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper)
• Tilak Varma (captain)
• Rajat Patidar (vice-captain)
• Rinku Singh
• Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper)
• Suryansh Shedge
• Shahbaz Ahmed
• Vipraj Nigam
• Harsh Dubey
• Tanush Kotian
• Harshit Rana
• Prince Yadav
• Arshad Khan

It is a squad built for 50-over cricket: two wicketkeepers for batting-order flexibility, all-round options in Shahbaz Ahmed, Suryansh Shedge and Vipraj Nigam, genuine pace from Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav and Arshad Khan, and spin from Harsh Dubey and Tanush Kotian.

Players to Watch

Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bring top-order firepower, but in 50-over cricket the question is whether they can build a long innings after a fast start.

Tilak Varma is central as captain and middle-order batter. Rinku Singh and Rajat Patidar bring finishing power, and the last ten overs often decide 50-over matches.

With the ball, Harshit Rana leads a pace attack, including Prince Yadav and Arshad Khan, while Dubey and Kotian offer middle-overs control. Fans tracking those bowling numbers will see the pattern quickly, and companion coverage such as Cricbet99 often sits alongside the official scorecards when supporters compare spells and match figures.

What India Needs to Reach the Final

India A need a top-two finish in Group B, which almost certainly means winning at least two of three group matches. Beating Nepal first would settle nerves and build a net run rate, and beating Pakistan A would put them in a commanding position. A second defeat would leave qualification out of their hands.

In the knockouts, one-off semi-finals reward the side that handles the big moments, with a complete performance across bat, ball and field.

How to Follow the Tournament

Track the official ACC and broadcaster updates for fixtures, scores and the points table, because standings and semi-final pairings will change after every match.

The key to India A dates are November 20 against Nepal, November 22 against Pakistan A, and November 24 against the UAE, followed by semi-finals on November 26 and 27 and the final on November 29. Supporters who like a second source open for match context will also find fan coverage running through the tournament, with Cricbet99 mentioned in that wider fan conversation rather than as an official source.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026?

November 19 to 29, 2026, in Doha, Qatar. The semi-finals are on November 26 and 27, and the final is on Sunday, November 29.

Where is the tournament played?

At two venues in Doha: the West End Park International Cricket Stadium and the University of Doha for Science and Technology ground.

What format is the 2026 edition?

A 50-over tournament. The 2025 edition was played in the T20 format.

Who are India A's group opponents?

India A are in Group B with Pakistan A, Nepal and the UAE. They play Nepal on November 20, Pakistan A on November 22, and the UAE on November 24, 2026.

Who captains India A?

Tilak Varma captains India A, with Rajat Patidar as vice-captain. The squad also includes Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rinku Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav and Arshad Khan.

Conclusion

The ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026 rewards patience, planning and depth, and the switch to 50 overs makes it a fairer test of the next generation. India A arrive with a balanced squad, a clear captain in Tilak Varma, and a group offering a headline match against Pakistan. A plus two fixtures they cannot treat lightly.

For fans, the Doha fortnight will answer real questions about young batters, bowlers and knockout pressure, and it will shape conversations about India's white-ball future beyond November 29, with companion fan coverage, including mentions of Cricbet99, running alongside the official scores.