Asia Cup 2025: 5 players making comeback after injury

Asia Cup 2025: 5 players making comeback after injury (Source: Getty Images)

Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to kickstart on Tuesday, September 9. The tournament will be played in the United Arab Emirates across a couple of venues: Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This will be third time the continental event will be played in the 20-over mode.

Each of the eight participating teams picked their squads well in advance of the tournament. There were a list of players other than the regulars who made their way back from injury and were straightaway integrated into the squad of their respective countries.

Asia Cup 2025: 4 players making a comeback after injury

5. Allah Ghazanfar

Allah Ghazanfar suffered an L4 vertebra fracture (stress fracture in the back) during the 2024-25 multi-format tour of Zimbabwe. This meant that the talented 19-year-old spinner was ruled out from the Champions Trophy as well as the Indian Premier League (IPL).

After an extended layoff, he returned to action for Band-e-Amir Dragons in the Shpageeza Cricket League. Ghazanfar also played in the recently-concluded UAE Tri-Series. Both his matches were against Pakistan. He returned figures of 0/24 and 1/27.

4. Fakhar Zaman

Fakhar Zaman suffered an agonising blow to his hamstring during Pakistan’s tour of West Indies. He could only take part in two T20Is out of three and skipped the entire ODI leg to get back to physical fitness.

He played all five of the Men in Green’s matches in the UAE tri-series. In what was an otherwise underwhelming assignment for him, Fakhar registered an unbeaten 44-ball 77-run knock against the hosts in the group stage. Fakhar’s experience will be invaluable to his country.

3. Wanindu Hasaranga

A hamstring injury ruled Wanindu Hasaranga out of the 20-over leg of the all-format series against Bangladesh. He was in full flow during the ODIs, contributing both with bat (22, 13, 18*) and ball (4/10, 3/60, 2/35).

Before his injury, he represented Rajasthan Royals in 11 IPL matches. Hasaranga also featured for Colombo CC for four matches during the Major Clubs T20 Tournament. The spin-bowling all-rounder is expected to be vital asset for the Lankans in UAE.

2. Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadavwill return to action after successfully returning from a sports hernia surgery. He was diagnosed with the condition after the IPL. Suryakumar was the second-highest run-scorer of the season, amassing 717 runs in 16 innings for the Mumbai Indians.

The Indian T20I skipper has not played a single match since the IPL. He was present alongside the chairperson of the senior men’s selection committee Ajit Agarkar at the time of India’s squad announcement at BCCI’s headquarters in Mumbai. The dynamic batter will be expected to bat at No. 4 and will hold the key for India.

1. Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson did not take part in Rajasthan Royals’ last match in IPL 2025 due to abdominal pain. He had to undergo a length recovery process before becoming fit to play again. At one point, there were doubts looming around his readiness for the Asia Cup.

Fortunately for him, he recovered well in time and was selected as one amongst three top-order batters for the Men in Blue for the Asia Cup. He even played five innings for Kochi Blue Tigers during the recent 2025 Kerala Premier League (KPL). Samson displayed some fine power-hitting skills during the franchise tournament.