Analysing India's roster for FIBA Asia Cup 2025: Amritpal's absence, gaps, likely approach

India have been among the weakest sides in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.

After a disappointing performance in the Women’s FIBA Asia Cup, all eyes are on the men’s team at the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 in Saudi Arabia. Scott Flemming’s side will enter the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 as underdogs, with the potential to cause an upset.

Placed in a difficult draw, India will look to better their last-place finish in the previous edition of the tournament. They are part of Group C alongside record-time champions China, Jordan, and hosts Saudi Arabia—meaning they have a huge wall to climb to qualify for the later stages.

Scott Flemming’s appointment as the head coach of Indian basketball team after Veselin Matic’s departure gives India hope of becoming the next powerhouse in Asian basketball.

The Indian Cagers have endured a streak of fluctuating performances in recent outings, oscillating between promising stretches of play and lapses in execution.

The first step toward a successful campaign lies in establishing roster consistency and maintaining balance on both ends of the floor. To execute the coach’s vision of a fast-paced offense with a strong emphasis on perimeter shooting, the team must prioritize adding more size without compromising their tempo.

Equally important will be their commitment on the defensive end. Indian forward Pranav Prince emphasized this after the group draws were announced, highlighting the team’s mindset and goals:

"We have a good chance of making it to the knockouts and beyond. We’ll keep pushing ourselves to the limit. Our focus will be on becoming the best defensive team, playing with intensity for all 40 minutes. That’s the approach we believe will give us the edge in this group."

Also Read: What is India’s best-ever finish in FIBA Asia Cup? All you need to know

Prince’s remarks reflect a team that is not only preparing to execute offensively but is also committed to setting the tone defensively—an essential balance if they aim to go deep in the tournament.

India’s roster for FIBA Asia Cup 2025

• Harsh Dagar | 6’2″ | 20 | Guard | Uttar Pradesh
• Muin Bek Hafeez | 6’2″ | 28 | Guard-Forward | Tamil Nadu
• Kanwar Gurbaaz Singh Sandhu | 6’1″ | 25 | Guard | Punjab
• Arvind Kumar Muthu Krishnan | 6’2″ | 24 | Guard | Tamil Nadu
• Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon | 6’4″ | 24 | Forward-Guard | Railways
• Pratyanshu Tomar | 6’8″ | 25 | Forward | Karnataka
• Vaisakh Manoj Karimbingal | 6’3″ | 23 | Guard | Kerala
• Pranav Prince | 6’7″ | 21 | Forward | Kerala
• Princepal Singh | 6’10” | 24 | Forward | Punjab
• Arvinder Singh Kahlon | 6’9″ | 22 | Forward-Center | Punjab
• Palpreet Singh Brar | 6’11” | 31 | Center | Punjab
• Amaan Sandhu | 6’8″ | 22 | Center | Punjab

Full squad details here

Lack of big man depth

With Amritpal Singh potentially facing a lengthy ban due to a doping allegation — possibly up to eight years — the Indian basketball team could be left with a major void in the front court. Amritpal’s absence would be a significant blow, as he brings scoring ability, physicality, and valuable international experience to the team.

Even with the addition of NCAA player Amaan Sandhu, India will need to dig deep to find a reliable big man. To solve this problem, small ball centres have been opted for. Sandhu will be supported by Palpreet Singh Brar and Princepal Singh at the center spot.

This also means that Arvinder Singh Kahlon concentrates solely on the forward position, sometimes even replacing the athletic forward Pranav Prince. Pratyanshu Tomar also gets another chance to have more options at the forward position and inside scoring.

Spoilt for Options on Guards

The biggest news is the return of Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon, who was out due to a deep vein thrombosis injury. Baladhaneshwar Poiyamozhi has fallen out of favour, and he could make way for the Kerala-born Vaisakh Manoj Karimbingal.

Arvind Kumar Muthu Krishnan and Harsh Dagar seem to be the lead playmakers for the team. Muin Bek Hafeez is still the glue-guy and will lead the perimeter shooting alongside Kunwar Gurbaz Singh Sandhu.

The team has preferred to rely on their speed rather than height, and as Arvinder Singh Kahlon shared in this exclusive interview, this team will focus first on defense, a similar approach to that of the 2010s team.

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