FIBA Asia Cup 2025: Know India's opponents in Group C

India are in Group C of FIBA Asia Cup 2025 alongside China, Jordan and hosts Saudi Arabia.

India have been handed a tough draw in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 group stages after being paired with China, Jordan and hosts Saudi Arabia. However, at one point it seemed, India might land in the easiest group (Group B) as the draw headed towards the closing stages.

But as luck would have it, India now share its group (Group C) with the sixth-ranked nation in Asia—China, a rising team in Jordan and hosts Arabia.

At first glance, this groups looks like a tough job to crack and it is. For India, to make out from this group, every step, every action and every move has to be executed at cutting edge precision. The inconsistencies of the past and collective hot and cold scoring spells won’t work here. Relying on a single scoring output needs to be replaced by everyone playing their role at their fullest.

Here we take a look at each of India’s Group C opponents in FIBA Asia Cup 2025!

China

• FIBA Ranking: 30th (6th in Asia)
• H2H: 2-6

The Asian giants may have fallen from being the best basketball team in Asia to just one place shy of top five, but they still pose a challenge for India as traditional dominant force. With 16 titles to their name, China are the biggest wall India have to jump. Surprisingly, this is the only team in this group which has lost to India.

Looking at the bigger picture in recent times, China finished eighth in the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup, missed the Paris 2024 Olympics and were third the at the Hangzhou Asian Games—the Dragons want to reclaim their lost identity, and will leave no stone left unturned.

Also Read: India to start FIBA Asia Cup 2025 journey against Jordan; check full schedule

India’s biggest victory in history have come against China—when they stunned the then 12th ranked Asian nation 65-58 in their opening match at 2014 FIBA Asia Cup. China will know that and be wary of the threat India possess if they go all guns firing.

China’s upper hand on size and paint dominance can cause problems for India and given the lack of size in the latter’s recent international selections. it will be interesting to see how India tackle this if they decide to bank on their scoring prowess.

Jordan

• FIBA Ranking: 35th (8th in Asia)
• H2H: 0-7

A consistent top-10 ranked nation in Asia, Jordan is another team which can pose a threat to India. Jordan had a 6-0 record in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers and come with the experience of FIBA World Cup 2022. They are also led by NBA Veteran Rondae Hollis-Jefferson who gained popularity with Kobe Bryant-esque playstyle in the tournament.

In their journey to the Asia Cup, “The Falcons” beat tournament hosts Saudi Arabia 78-68, mounted an astounding 19-point comeback against Iran and comfortably won over the rest of the teams in the qualifying rounds. Jordan’s hard mental fortitude and talented naturalized players in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Dar Tucker and Ahmad Dwairi can make it hard for India to contain them.

For India to have any chance against them, the guards have to make sure to be up-to touch from the get go and defend like Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers in the NBA 2025 playoffs. India’s rebounding has been their weak link and if Jordan decide to capitalise on it, that will mean game over for India.

Saudi Arabia

• FIBA Ranking: 35th (8th in Asia)
• H2H: 0-5

Deemed as the easiest opponent in the group, Saudi Arabia will have one of the biggest advantages with them—support of the home crowd. India themselves will know the power and presence of a strong home crowd after their stunning win over Kazakhstan in Chennai in the qualifying round.

Saudi had a 4-1 win loss record in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, with their only defeat coming against Jordan. Their results against the other regional teams showed where they stand at the Asian level. Saudi are 65th in the world but 10th in Asia— and both ranks are better when compared to India. Saudi Arabia also have not lost to India since 2014.

Also Read: FIBA Asia Cup 2025: India drawn against China, hosts Saudi Arabia in Group C

Muhammad Ali Addurrahkman and Mohammed Alsuwailem will be the players who can cause trouble and spoil India’s chances of finishing third in the group.

Given the opponents in their group, India will enter the tournament as underdogs with potential to deliver upsets. Following the appointment of Scott Flemming, India have set on a dream to become the next powerhouse in Asian basketball and while they have endured a streak of fluctuating performances, oscillating between promising stretches of play and lapses in execution, the team has showed it has the potential to become the next powerhouse.

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