The Asia Cup has always been more than just a cricket tournament. It is the one stage where the best teams from the subcontinent come together — India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, UAE and Oman. For fans, it is a mix of rivalry, pride, and preparation for bigger ICC events. The 2025 edition of the Asia Cup is set to be unique. It will be played in the T20 format and hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup around the corner, this tournament will act as the perfect dress rehearsal for Asian teams. In this guide, we’ll break down everything fans want to know — from format and dates to India’s participation and where to watch. How Often Is the Asia Cup Held and What Is Its Format? The Asia Cup is held once every two years under the governance of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). What makes it different from other regional tournaments is its flexible format. The format alternates between ODI (50 overs) and T20 (20 overs) depending on the ICC event that follows: If the upcoming ICC global event is an ODI World Cup, the Asia Cup is played in ODI format. If it’s a T20 World Cup year, the Asia Cup is played in T20 format. This system was first applied in 2016, when the Asia Cup switched to T20 ahead of the T20 World Cup in India. Since then, the rotation policy has continued. For a complete year-wise journey of the tournament, you can explore the Asia Cup History Why Asia Cup 2025 Will Be in T20 Format? The 2025 edition will be played in T20 format because it directly precedes the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The idea is to allow Asian teams to get used to the shorter format, experiment with squads, and fine-tune strategies. 2016: Asia Cup was first played as a T20 in Bangladesh ahead of T20 WC 2016. 2022: UAE hosted another T20 edition before T20 WC in Australia. Following this pattern, 2025 = T20 format. Why is the UAE Hosting in 2025? India were the official hosts of the Asia Cup 2025. But because of strained political relations with Pakistan, neither team currently plays in the other’s country. If the tournament had gone ahead in India, Pakistan’s matches would still have needed to be played at a neutral venue. To avoid splitting the event across multiple countries, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) decided to stage the entire tournament in the UAE, while the BCCI remains the official host. While the Asia Cup traditionally rotates among ACC members, the UAE continues to be the most practical option when political or scheduling challenges arise. When Will Asia Cup 2025 Start? The official fixture list for the Asia Cup 2025 has now been confirmed by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The tournament will run for just under three weeks in September 2025, giving teams valuable match practice ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. First Match: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong on Tuesday, September 9, 6:30pm IST (14:30 GMT) at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi Final Match: Sunday, September 28, 6:30pm IST (14:30 GMT) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai This scheduling ensures the Asia Cup fits neatly between international series and acts as a competitive build-up to the global T20 tournament. Will Virat and Rohit Play Asia Cup 2025? No — Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will not play in the Asia Cup 2025. Both legendary batters announced their retirement from T20 internationals after guiding India to victory in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies. Since the 2025 Asia Cup is being played in the T20 format, they are ineligible to participate. However, if the tournament had been scheduled in ODI format, both would likely have featured as they continue to be active in the 50-over setup. Where to Watch Asia Cup 2025 in India Cricket fans in India will have multiple options to catch all the action live from the Asia Cup 2025: TV Broadcast: Matches will be shown on both the Sony Sports Network and the Star Sports Network, depending on final rights distribution by the ACC. Live Streaming: Available on SonyLIV, and JioHotstar, giving fans flexibility to stream on mobile or web. Asia Cup Winners List (1984–2023) Since its first edition in 1984, the Asia Cup has largely been a battle between India and Sri Lanka, with Pakistan also leaving its mark. Bangladesh has been a three-time finalist but is yet to lift the trophy. For the full year-wise Asia cup winners list (1984–2023) with finals and match details, check here: Asia Cup Winners List (1984–2023). Here’s the winners’ tally up to 2023: Winner No. of Victories Year India 8 1984, 1988, 1990-91, 1995, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2023 Sri Lanka 6 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2012 Pakistan 2 2000 & 2012 Conclusion The Asia Cup 2025 promises to be another exciting chapter in Asian cricket. With a T20 format, a neutral UAE venue, and high-stakes matches like India vs Pakistan, the tournament will attract millions of viewers. For India, it will be an important step in preparing for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Stay tuned for the ultimate one-stop resource on the Asia Cup 2025.