India A will head into the ACC Men's Rising Stars Asia Cup without Rajat Patidar. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Sunday, 8 November, that Patidar has withdrawn from the squad while he manages his existing injuries, with Ayush Badoni called up in his place and Rinku Singh named vice-captain under captain Tilak Varma.
What the BCCI announced
The BCCI issued a short media advisory on Sunday confirming the change. Patidar himself told the board he should not be considered for selection in the 50-over format for now, and the Men's Selection Committee accepted his request.
"Rajat Patidar has communicated to the BCCI that he should not be considered for selection in the 50-over format as he manages his existing injuries. Accordingly, he has been withdrawn from the India A squad for the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup. The Men's Selection Committee has named Rinku Singh as vice-captain, while Ayush Badoni has been added to the squad in Patidar's place."
The advisory, signed by BCCI honorary secretary Devajit Saikia, gave no further medical detail about Patidar's injuries.
The updated India A squad
India A's 15-member squad for the tournament in Doha is:
Tilak Varma (captain)
Rinku Singh (vice-captain)
Abhishek Sharma
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper)
Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper)
Suryansh Shedge
Shahbaz Ahmed
Vipraj Nigam
Harsh Dubey
Tanush Kotian
Harshit Rana
Prince Yadav
Arshad Khan
Ayush Badoni
India's road in Doha
The Rising Stars Asia Cup runs from 19 to 29 November in Doha, Qatar, with eight teams split into two groups. India A are in Group B alongside Pakistan A, Nepal and the UAE, while Group A features Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A and Hong Kong, China. The top two teams from each group reach the semi-finals on 26 and 27 November, with the final on 29 November.
India A open their campaign against Nepal on 20 November at the West End Park International Stadium in Doha, then face Pakistan A at the same venue on 22 November, before rounding off the group stage against the UAE on 24 November at the University of Doha for Science and Technology.
Why the change matters
Patidar's withdrawal is a blow to India A's middle order, but it opens a door for Badoni, the Delhi all-rounder, and hands Rinku Singh a leadership role in a squad full of young talent. With Pakistan A and Nepal in the same group, India A's group games will be closely watched across the region, and a strong start in Doha would carry real momentum into the knockouts.