As the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 tips off on August 5 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Indian men’s national basketball team is poised to make its mark in what promises to be a fiercely competitive continental showdown.
This 31st edition of the tournament, running until August 17, marks India’s 11th consecutive appearance. With defending champions Australia leading the pack and 16 teams vying for glory, India finds itself in a tough Group C alongside powerhouses China, hosts Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Under the guidance of head coach Scott Flemming, the team aims not just to participate but to break a decade-long winless streak in the Asia Cup .
A Gritty Path to Qualification: Triumphs and Trials
India’s road to Jeddah was anything but straightforward, marked by early setbacks and dramatic comebacks that highlighted the program’s determination. The qualification process began in 2022 with pre-qualifiers, where India navigated regional challenges to advance. In the main qualifiers, the team faced stiff opposition in Group E, suffering initial losses to higher-ranked sides like Iran and Kazakhstan. A pivotal turning point came in Chennai, where India snapped a 16-game FIBA losing streak with a hard-fought win over Kazakhstan, reigniting hopes for qualification.
The decisive phase unfolded in March 2025 during the final qualifying round in Manama, Bahrain. India topped Group H with back-to-back victories: a dominant 97-77 win over Iraq followed by a thrilling 81-77 triumph against Bahrain, despite a late comeback attempt by their opponents.
Harsh Dagar emerged as a standout performer in the Bahrain game, showcasing poise under pressure. These wins secured India’s spot among the 16 qualifiers, joining debutants like Guam and returning teams such as Qatar and Iraq. Reflecting on the journey, Flemming emphasized the need for continued improvement, stating that the team still has “things to work on” to compete at the highest level. This qualification not only guarantees India’s presence in Jeddah but also earns them a berth in the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers
Preparation and Focus Areas
Under Coach Scott Flemming’s leadership, India has undertaken an intensive preparation regimen to address the shortcomings exposed during their 16th-place finish at the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup, where they lost all group stage matches. Recognizing the need for greater consistency and competitiveness, Flemming has orchestrated a multi-faceted training program aimed at elevating the team’s performance against Asia’s elite.
The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) organized a series of exposure friendly games in Doha, Qatar, in July 2025, pitting India against mid-tier Asian teams to simulate the intensity of the Asia Cup. These matches provided invaluable insights into the team’s strengths and weaknesses. Flemming noted that additional games would have further honed the squad’s cohesion and execution, particularly in high-pressure scenarios.
A critical focus area has been improving India’s three-point shooting, identified as a significant weakness in previous tournaments. To address this, training camps have incorporated extensive shooting drills, with players like Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon, Harsh Dagar, and Muin Bek Hafeez spending extra hours refining their long-range accuracy.
Flemming has emphasized the need for reliable outside shooting to stretch defenses and create scoring opportunities against physically imposing teams like China and Jordan. The team has also worked on set plays to generate open three-point looks, integrating pick-and-roll and off-ball screens to exploit defensive gaps.
Flemming further remarked on the necessity of limiting turnovers and rebounding effectively to compete at the highest continental level. With a blend of returning talent and new faces in the squad, the team’s preparation has been challenged by limited international exposure, but players remain focused on these key improvement areas as the tournament approaches
Tournament Format and Participating Teams
The FIBA Asia Cup 2025 features 16 top teams from Asia and Oceania, divided into four groups of four teams each. The participating teams include powerhouses like China, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines, alongside emerging teams such as India, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Iran, Qatar, Kazakhstan, South Korea, New Zealand, Bahrain, Indonesia, and Chinese Taipei. The tournament follows a structured format: the group stage is a round-robin, with each team playing the others in their group.
The top team from each group advances directly to the quarter-finals, while the second- and third-placed teams compete in a qualification round to determine the remaining quarter-finalists. The tournament then proceeds to a knockout stage, culminating in the final to crown the champion.
Team Roster
The BFI announced a 12-member squad for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, combining experienced players and emerging talents to form a balanced unit. The roster includes:
- Pranav Prince (Forward/Center)
- Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon (Point Guard)
- Princepal Singh (Forward/Center)
- Arvind Kumar Krishnan (Point Guard)
- Palpreet Singh Brar (Forward/Center)
- Harsh Dagar (Shooting Guard)
- Muin Bek Hafeez (Point Guard)
- Vaisakh Karimbingal Manoj (Shooting Guard)
- Kanwar Gurbaj Singh Sandhu (Shooting Guard)
- Arvinder Singh (Forward/Center)
- Pratyanshu Tomar (Forward/Center)
- Amaan Sandhu (Forward/Center)
Notably, Amaan Sandhu, who competes in NCAA Division I, returns to the national team after a two-year hiatus, bringing valuable international experience. Veterans like Palpreet Singh Brar provide leadership, while young stars Pranav Prince and Princepal Singh anchor the frontcourt.
The guard-heavy lineup, including Sahaij Sekhon, Muin Bek Hafeez, and Harsh Dagar, is expected to drive the offense, particularly in addressing the team’s three-point shooting needs. The roster’s versatility allows Flemming to deploy flexible lineups to counter Group C’s formidable opponents.
Group C and Schedule
India faces a tough Group C with China (ranked 30th), Jordan (35th), and Saudi Arabia (65th). The top team advances directly to the quarter-finals, while second and third compete for additional spots. India’s schedule (IST):
August 5, 2025: India vs. Jordan, 4:30 PM
August 7, 2025: India vs. China, 1:30 PM
August 9, 2025: India vs. Saudi Arabia, 8:30 PM
Jordan’s athleticism, China’s dominance, and Saudi Arabia’s home advantage pose challenges, but India aims for an upset, relying on improved shooting and defense.
Facing 16-time champions China, semifinalists Jordan from 2022, and a motivated Saudi Arabian host side, India enters as underdogs but with quiet confidence. The team’s last Asia Cup win dates back to 2015, and breaking that drought will require sharp execution against physically dominant foes. A top-two finish in Group C would propel them to the quarterfinals, a realistic target if they capitalize on their qualifiers’ momentum.
As tip-off approaches, the Indian squad embodies a program on the rise, fueled by Flemming’s return and a hunger to prove themselves. Fans back home will be watching closely, hoping for performances that elevate Indian basketball on the global stage.
