India Meets Iran in first match at CAVA Mens Nations League 2025

The stage is set for the Central Asian Volleyball Association CAVA Mens Nations League 2025, with the action unfolding in Fergana, Uzbekistan from May 29 to June 4.

Featuring top teams from Central and South Asia, the tournament promises a week of high-intensity volleyball.

Team India, led by an experienced coaching setup and a blend of young and seasoned players, will be keen to make a strong impression in Pool A.

India’s Fixtures – All Times in IST

India begins its campaign on the opening day against a formidable Iran side at 11:00 AM IST on May 29. This will be followed by two more Pool A fixtures:

•vs Uzbekistan at 5:30 PM IST on May 30

•vs Turkmenistan at 2:30 PM IST on May 31

The top three teams from each pool will move to the crossover round, with the final classification matches—including the Gold Medal match—scheduled for June 4.

Tournament Format and Match Schedule

The CAVA Men’s Nations League features two pools:

•Pool A: India, Iran, Uzbekistan (host), Turkmenistan

•Pool B: Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan

Each team plays every other team in their pool in a round-robin format, with the top three teams from each pool advancing to the crossover stage.

Key Schedule Highlights in IST:

Pool Matches (May 29–31)

•May 29

•Iran vs India – 11:00 AM IST

•Kyrgyzstan vs Kazakhstan – 1:30 PM IST

•Uzbekistan vs Turkmenistan – 5:30 PM IST

•May 30

•Pakistan vs Kyrgyzstan – 11:30 AM IST

•Turkmenistan vs Iran – 3:30 PM IST

•Uzbekistan vs India – 5:30 PM IST

•May 31

•Pakistan vs Kazakhstan – 11:30 AM IST

•Turkmenistan vs India – 2:30 PM IST

•Uzbekistan vs Iran – 5:30 PM IST

Rest Day: June 1

Crossover Round (June 2–3)

•June 2:

•Rank 1 (Pool A) vs Rank 2 (Pool B) – 1:30 PM IST

•Rank 2 (Pool A) vs Rank 1 (Pool B) – 3:30 PM IST

•Rank 3 (Pool A) vs Rank 3 (Pool B) – 5:30 PM IST

•June 3:

•Repeat of crossover matches to decide final standings

Finals Day (June 4)

•Bronze Medal Match (Rank 5 vs Rank 6) – 11:30 AM IST

•Silver Medal Match (Rank 3 vs Rank 4) – 3:30 PM IST

•Gold Medal Match (Rank 1 vs Rank 2) – 5:30 PM IST

India’s Squad for CAVA Nations League 2025

India heads into the competition with a well-balanced 14-member squad featuring a mix of young blood and veteran talent, under the guidance of Serbian coach Dragan Mihailovic.

Setters

•Muthusamy

•Saqlain Tariq

Outside Hitters

•Chirag Yadav

•Amit Gulia

•Aman Kumar

•Shon T John

Middle Blockers

•Ashwal Rai

•John Joseph

•Mujeeb

•Sikhar Singh

Opposite Hitters

•Jerome Vinit

•Vinit Kumar

Liberos

•Anand

•Hari Prasad

Coaching and Support Staff

•Head Coach: Dragan Mihailovic

•Assistant Coaches: Amrit Pal Singh, Ravi Kumar

•Strength & Conditioning Coach: Filip Vlajic

•Scoutman: Mirko Redisavljevic

•Physiotherapist: Dr. Chirag Thakor

India will be banking on experienced players like Ashwal Rai, Jerome Vinit, and Vinit Kumar, who bring years of international exposure. The team has shown promise in recent competitions, and under Mihailovic’s leadership, is aiming for a podium finish.

For Team India, it serves as an ideal opportunity to test its bench strength and fine-tune combinations.

With the pool stages followed by back-to-back crossover and final rounds, the tournament is designed to test the stamina, strategy, and skill depth of every squad. India, with a good mix of youth and experience, will look to go deep into the competition.

The 2025 edition of the CAVA Men’s Nations League marks another key step in India’s volleyball resurgence. With a committed squad, professional coaching staff, and a manageable schedule, the Indian team enters the competition with high hopes.

Eyes will be on their opening clash against Iran, a match that could set the tone for India’s journey in Fergana. If India can navigate through the pool stage and handle the pressure of the crossover matches, they have every chance of reaching the gold medal match on June 4.

Stay tuned as India aims to bring home regional glory from Central Asia.