Who Were the Emerging Stars of Asia Cup 2023 – And What Do They Mean for 2025?

The Asia Cup has always been more than just another regional competition. It is played among some of cricket’s most passionate nations, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and occasionally associate challengers like Hong Kong or Nepal. The event combines the intensity of a World Cup with the unique flavour of subcontinental rivalries.

Because of the stakes and the spotlight, the Asia Cup has a history of transforming promising cricketers into household names. Sanath Jayasuriya’s blazing 189 in 1997, Shahid Afridi’s six-hitting in 1996, and Virat Kohli’s unforgettable 183 against Pakistan in 2012 all became career-defining moments. Each of those innings was not just a performance but a statement of intent on a continental stage.

The 2023 Asia Cup, jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan in a hybrid model, provided its share of established stars such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, and Kusal Mendis. It also revealed fresh names and surprise performers who stamped their authority. Some came from the full senior tournament, while others shone in the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023, a parallel event that showcased A teams and younger squads.

Together, these performances gave us a glimpse of the next wave of Asian cricket talent. As the 2025 Asia Cup unfolds, the impact of those 2023 breakouts is already visible.

Mohammed Siraj: The Final’s Fiery Spell

If there was one performance that defined the Asia Cup 2023, it was Mohammed Siraj’s 6 for 21 in the final against Sri Lanka in Colombo. In just seven overs, Siraj ripped through Sri Lanka’s top order and took four wickets in a single over. By the time he finished, Sri Lanka had been bowled out for only 50 runs. India chased it down in just over six overs and won by 10 wickets.

Siraj had already been recognised as a Test match workhorse. This spell was his defining white ball performance. The pace, swing, and control he displayed under pressure showed that India had found a bowler for big-match moments.

Why it matters for 2025: Siraj entered the 2025 edition as one of India’s frontline quicks. His 2023 spell elevated him from support bowler to match-winner, and that confidence carried into future tournaments.

Pathum Nissanka: Sri Lanka’s Dependable Opener

In a Sri Lankan side that often looked unsettled, Pathum Nissanka was a consistent source of runs. He scored multiple half-centuries during the group and Super Four stages, providing stability at the top of the order. His ability to adapt to conditions, nudging singles on slow pitches, accelerating against spin, or lofting pace bowlers over mid on, made him one of Sri Lanka’s most dependable batters.

Although he failed in the final, dismissed cheaply by Siraj, his tournament aggregate showed maturity beyond his years.

Why it matters for 2025: With Sri Lanka in transition after the retirements of Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga, Nissanka’s ability to hold the top order together gives them a foundation. By 2025, he was seen not as a newcomer but as a future leader of their batting lineup.

Shubman Gill: From Talent to Mainstay

Though already recognised before 2023, Shubman Gill used the tournament to show that he was ready to be India’s next ODI great. He finished as the highest run scorer of the Asia Cup 2023 with 302 runs at an average of 75.50, including a brilliant 121 against Bangladesh in Colombo.

Gill’s success was not about flashy stroke play but about control and poise. Where younger batters might have rushed, Gill played classical cricket. He leaned into cover drives, glided balls behind point, and rotated strike under pressure.

Why it matters for 2025: By the time of the UAE edition in 2025, Gill was no longer a prodigy but India’s batting pillar. His 2023 form paved the path for his leadership role in the team’s batting order, much like Kohli’s 2012 campaign.

Afghanistan’s Rising Names

Rahmanullah Gurbaz: The Aggressive Spark

Afghanistan’s wicketkeeper opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz stole the show in the group stages with a blistering 151 against Pakistan in Colombo. It was one of the most audacious innings of the tournament, filled with fearless hitting against Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan.

Gurbaz’s aggression symbolised Afghanistan’s growing confidence. They were no longer content to be plucky underdogs, and instead showed that they wanted to dominate top sides.

Ibrahim Zadran: The Anchor

If Gurbaz provided the fireworks, Ibrahim Zadran brought the composure. He scored steady half-centuries and showed the ability to anchor innings against top attacks. Together, Gurbaz and Ibrahim gave Afghanistan one of the most promising opening partnerships in the competition.

Why it matters for 2025: Gurbaz and Ibrahim entered 2025 as Afghanistan’s established openers. Their contrasting styles, one explosive and the other steady, gave the team balance. Their 2023 performances were the blueprint.

ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023: The Next Generation

Parallel to the senior Asia Cup, the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023, played in Sri Lanka, gave young players and A teams the chance to shine. It was here that some of the most exciting breakout stories emerged.

Sai Sudharsan (India A)

In the group stage against Pakistan A, Sai Sudharsan played a dazzling century that captured headlines. Facing quality bowling in a high-pressure game, Sudharsan displayed maturity well beyond his years and guided India A to victory.

He finished as one of the tournament’s top scorers. His ability to absorb pressure and accelerate late in innings marked him out as a future international player.

Rajvardhan Hangargekar (India A)

India’s fast bowling stocks received a boost from Rajvardhan Hangargekar, who took wickets with the new ball and at the death. His spell against Pakistan A, where he delivered pace and accuracy, reminded many of India’s need for aggressive quicks beyond Bumrah and Siraj.

Nishant Sindhu (India A)

The leading wicket taker of the Emerging Teams tournament with 11 wickets, Nishant Sindhu showed his value as a left-arm spinner who could both contain and attack. His variations troubled batters across conditions, and his all-round ability with the bat added balance.

Avishka Fernando (Sri Lanka A)

On the Sri Lankan side, Avishka Fernando topped the runs chart with 255 runs. Having flirted with the national team before, his form in the Emerging Cup suggested he was ready to push for a more permanent senior role.

Why it matters for 2025: Many of these names, including Sudharsan, Hangargekar, Sindhu, and Fernando, were already in the conversation for national call-ups by the time of the 2025 Asia Cup. Their performances in 2023 ensured selectors kept them firmly in the pipeline.

Key Performances That Defined 2023

Several moments from the 2023 tournaments stood out as turning points:

• Siraj’s four wickets in one over against Sri Lanka, which turned a final into a rout.

• Gurbaz’s 151 against Pakistan, which signalled Afghanistan’s batting power.

• Gill’s 121 against Bangladesh, which consolidated his spot as India’s batting future.

• Sudharsan’s hundred against Pakistan A in the Emerging Cup, which showed he could deliver in marquee contests.

• Nishant Sindhu’s four-wicket haul in a knockout proved his mettle as a wicket-taker.

Each of these moments carried the same aura as earlier Asia Cup breakthroughs, combining stage, pressure, and execution.

Comparisons With Past Breakouts

The emerging stars of 2023 echoed the stories of earlier generations.

• Afridi in 1996 showed fearless youth, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz had the same energy.

• Kohli in 2012 cemented himself as India’s ODI anchor, and Shubman Gill’s 2023 campaign had a similar feel.

• Babar Azam in 2018 demonstrated calm consistency, which was mirrored by Ibrahim Zadran.

• Lasith Malinga’s early days showed the impact of raw fast bowlers, and Mohammed Siraj’s and Rajvardhan Hangargekar’s breakthroughs pointed to a continuing fast bowling pipeline in Asia.

These parallels reinforce the Asia Cup’s role as not just a tournament but also a talent incubator.

Impact Heading Into Asia Cup 2025

By the time the 2025 Asia Cup began in the UAE, the influence of 2023’s emerging stars was clear.

• India: Gill was no longer a prodigy but the batting leader. Sai Sudharsan was on the fringes of national selection. Siraj was entrenched as a frontline quick.

• Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka had matured further, while Avishka Fernando pushed for regular inclusion.

• Afghanistan: Gurbaz and Ibrahim were the unquestioned opening pair. Omarzai and Noor Ahmad, who also rose in 2023, were central to their balance.

• Pakistan: Saud Shakeel, though quieter in 2023, benefited from the space created by Babar and Rizwan’s dominance.

• Bangladesh: Though no one had a standout 2023 Asia Cup, the experience fed into 2025’s search for post-Shakib leaders.

The Asia Cup once again did its job, spotlighting the players who would shape the next edition and beyond.

Conclusion: 2023 as the Launchpad for 2025

Looking back, Asia Cup 2023 was not only about India’s ruthless final victory. It was also about the individual performances that offered glimpses of the future. Siraj’s spell of a lifetime, Gill’s run glut, Gurbaz’s audacity, Nissanka’s maturity, Sudharsan’s promise, Sindhu’s spin craft, and Fernando’s consistency all stood out.

Each of these names has relevance in 2025 and beyond. Some are already stars, others are pushing into the spotlight, but all of them remind us of the Asia Cup’s unique power. It is the tournament where legends are born and careers are launched.

As the 2025 edition unfolds in the UAE, the emerging stars of 2023 form the backbone of their teams’ hopes. Just as Afridi in 1996 or Kohli in 2012 are remembered for their Asia Cup breakthroughs, the class of 2023 may one day be spoken of as the generation that reshaped Asian cricket.