The Asia Cup 2025, organized in the UAE from September 9–28, is the largest to date, with eight teams—India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong. With the energetic T20 format at play, teams introduce a combination of legacy, strategic thinking, and unbridled ambition. Whereas India is defending its title with depth and firepower, others such as Afghanistan rely on the art of spin, and Sri Lanka attempts balance despite injury issues. Underdogs UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong hope to make telling statements. This review examines the strengths and weaknesses of all teams, highlighting who could dominate and who may surprise in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup. Asia Cup 2025 Squad Analysis: Strengths and Weaknesses of All Squads Team Key Strengths Notable Weaknesses India Explosive top order (Suryakumar, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma), balanced bowling with Bumrah-led attack Lack of specialist finisher, seam depth beyond Bumrah uncertain Pakistan Aggressive batting line-up, potent pace battery (Afridi, Rauf), new youthful energy Absence of senior leaders (Babar, Rizwan) may impact experience and middle-order stability Sri Lanka Strong spin trio including Hasaranga, dependable middle overs, dynamically balanced squad Fitness concerns for returning Hasaranga could disrupt spin options Bangladesh Accurate seam and spin attack, experienced core (Litton, Fizz, Taskin) Inconsistent top order, limited late-order hitting power Afghanistan Elitespin attack (Rashid, Mujeeb, Nabi), pace variety Fragile middle order lacking specialist batting UAE (hosts) Familiar conditions, full-strength squad, passionate local support Limited experience against full-member sides Oman Strong regional performances, resilient regional qualifiers Limited match-winning depth and T20 experience Hong Kong Emerging talent, spirited underdog persona Significant experience gap, may struggle under high-pressure matches Asia Cup 2025 Squad Analysis in Detail India Image Source : Getty Images India comes in as champion defending team with an energetically attacking batting unit led by Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, and Tilak Varma. Their bowling is balanced, with Jasprit Bumrah's accuracy and spin depth augmented by Kuldeep and Varun Chakravarthy. However, finishing is unsettled—no definite death-over anchor leaves doubts, and seam options outside Bumrah are fairly untested in UAE conditions. Nevertheless, their mix of flair, experience, and flexibility makes for a potent championship picture going into this all-important T20 season. Also Read | Abhishek Sharma Batting Analysis: How He Has Evolved as an Attacking Batter Pakistan Image Source : Associated Press Pakistan's new-look team celebrates boldness with the likes of Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub at the top, complemented by aggressive pace led by Shaheen and Rauf. Their belligerence has explosive possibilities at the beginning of innings. Yet, the absence of veterans Babar Azam and Rizwan creates a leadership and middle-order stability lacuna. How they balance this ferocity with pressure theses will decide their destiny. Sri Lanka Image Source : Getty Images Sri Lanka responds with a rich spin arsenal comprising Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, and Maheesh Theekshana—perfect for UAE conditions. They have an experienced middle order to balance things out. But they rely too much on the fitness of Hasaranga after injury, and his frailty can be their weakness. Their success will lie in managing his workload and others rising to the occasion under pressure. Bangladesh Image Source : ICC Bangladesh has an experienced core—Litton Das, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin, and Shoriful—backed by diverse spin talent. Their conditions in the UAE favor their balanced bowling. However, a flaky top order and absence of explosive finishers make them susceptible under intense chase situations. They are possible dark horses but need to steer clear of batting collapses to remain in contention. Afghanistan Image Source : ESPN Afghanistan's cricketing backbone is still daunting: Rashid, Nabi, and Mujeeb have a world-class spin combination coupled with pace in Naveen and Farooqi. They are short of pure specialist batsmen in the middle order aside from all-rounders, but this constrains their ability to be resilient at crunch times. They will overwhelm if their spin attack comes good. But inability to construct batting partnerships could hamper them in knockouts. UAE Image Source : ESPN The UAE use home comfort with a full-strength team named right on the doorstep of the event, captained by Muhammad Waseem. They understand conditions and hope to catch out more highly ranked sides. However, their absence from big pressure moments and high-level competition will probably clog up development. However, upsets are close to hand if they take advantage of ease and preparation. Oman Image Source : Associated Press Oman come in as regional qualifiers with competitive resolve and ACC-level performance mettle. Their players are attuned to subcontinental conditions and team chemistry. But unlike full-member teams, they lack T20 lineage and depth to win consistently. They may trouble in patches but are likely to fall short in consistent match situations. Hong Kong Image Source : Getty Images Hong Kong provides up-and-coming cricketing stars willing to shine in a premier event. They operate on a passion and energy-driven tempo. Nevertheless, accommodation to Asian Cup intensity can try their mettle and match tempo management. Anticipate energetic performances but maybe limited returns against strong sides. Also Read | Asia Cup History: Champions, Records, and Highlights Conclusion Asia Cup 2025 will be an exciting T20 tournament, combining established giants with energetic underdogs.India's depth and balance make them favorites, and Afghanistan's spin attack makes them genuine threats. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have exposure but need to deal with fitness and form. Pakistan's aggressive overhaul brings in the element of uncertainty, and UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong are hope and potential surprise packages. In the end, it is flexibility to UAE conditions, mental toughness, and solid leadership that will decide Super Four qualifiers and finalists. It's not only a test of skill—but of strategy, of form, and of temperament under fire.