Ayush Badoni Replaces Injured Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh Named Vice-Captain

India A have made two changes to their squad for the upcoming ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026, with Ayush Badoni replacing injured batter Rajat Patidar and Rinku Singh being appointed vice-captain of the team.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the changes on Sunday, November 8. Patidar has been withdrawn from the squad after failing to fully recover from his existing injuries. The batter also informed the BCCI that he should not be considered for selection in the 50-over format while managing his fitness concerns.

"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," the BCCI said in an official statement.

Following his withdrawal, the Men's Selection Committee named Ayush Badoni as his replacement and Rinku Singh as vice-captain. Tilak Varma will continue to lead the India A side in the eight-team competition.

The tournament will be held in Doha, Qatar, from November 19 to 29. India A have been placed in Group B alongside Pakistan A, the United Arab Emirates A and Nepal A. Group A comprises Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.

India A will begin their campaign against Nepal A on November 20, followed by a high-profile clash against arch-rivals Pakistan A on November 22. They will face the UAE A in their final group-stage match on November 24.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, scheduled for November 26 and 27, while the final will take place on November 29.

Updated India A squad:

Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma (captain), Rinku Singh (vice-captain), Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper), Suryansh Shedge, Shahbaz Ahmed, Vipraj Nigam, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav, Arshad Khan and Ayush Badoni.