FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers Round 2 Rival Watch: India to face Iraq and Bahrain in final qualifying tournament

The top two-placed teams from the group will advance to the final tournament.

India are at a critical point after a disappointing 0-2 finish left them unable to secure direct qualification for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025. The team now have one final opportunity to book their spot in the prestigious continental tournament. Should they fail to claim the top position in this last qualifying window, it would mark India’s first absence from the championship in the 21st century. The FIBA Asia Cup 2025 is set to take place in Dubai from August 5 to August 17, 2025.

It is crucial for India to field a strong team that balances veterans and youngsters. Their Window 3 squad raised several questions regarding the team’s approach to qualification, as it was completely different from the Window 2 squad—the team that secured India’s first home-court win in nearly 70 years.

Also Read: India announces roster for Round 2 of FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers

Here, we look at India’s opponents in the Final Qualifying Tournament and how India fare against them.

Iraq

The last time India played Iraq in 2021, Veselin Matic was on the sidelines to see Vishesh Bhriguvanshi make the famous half-court heave. This time Bhriguvanshi, alongside Muin Bek Hafeez and Amjyot Singh Gill (probably), will face their former coach almost a year after his departure. Hafeez played his best game ever for India in that match scoring 22 points and 7 assists. Amjyot Singh Gill played support with 12 points to his name.

Ihab Al-Zuhairi was a trouble last time with his offence, but this time it’s the defense. He leads the team in blocks (10) and has recorded the same number of rebounds (43) as Demario Mayfield. Mayfield is Iraq’s leading scorer, with 112 points and an efficiency rating of 123. He takes a high volume of shots, shooting 38% from the field. As the team’s offensive hub, he also leads in assists, with 40 to his name.

Al-Zuhairi who notched 16 points in his last outing against India is also the second-most efficient shooter on the team, with a 54% field goal percentage. You cannot leave him alone, if done he can be wreaking havoc on the wood.

Offensively, Iraq is similar to India, as both teams are closely matched across most box score categories. However, Iraq is the best defensive team in the group, with 51 steals and 22 blocks.

The matchup is expected to be competitive, but India must rely on three-point shooting. On paper, Iraq appears to be a team that can protect the paint, allowing opponents to take inside shots while using their shot-blocking ability as a defensive weapon.

Also Read: Five key takeaways from India’s campaign at FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers Round 1

Bahrain

Bahrain finished third in a three-way tie after a close 89-87 loss to Syria. The last time they faced India was on the last day of FIBA Pre Olympic Qualifiers two years ago. The best player was Sahaij Singh Sekhon (17 points, 20 EFF) while Pranav Prince had a shooting slump in the 66-79 loss.

Mustafa Rasheed is the Bahrain’s leading scorer, with 113 points, but Devon Chism is the most efficient player, boasting a 171-efficiency rating in this Qualifier. Chism also leads the team in rebounds, steals, and blocks, but he is prone to foul trouble.

Ahmed Haji is their most dangerous three-point shooter, hitting nearly 60% of his shots from beyond the arc on 38 attempts. India must focus on closing out hard on him and avoid leaving him open.

Bahrain is a like-for-like matchup against India in terms of shooting, but they commit the most fouls in Group H. The team relies heavily on assists, meaning they frequently move the ball to create open shots. Defensive discipline will be critical for India, as Bahrain has already scored over 400 points in the first round.

India

India’s inconsistent roster won’t be enough to succeed here. The team is on the brink of missing out on the Asia Cup and won’t even be playing on the final day of the tournament to make a last push. They must go all in from the very start, but given their recent performances, advancing past this stage looks challenging.

The team’s turnover rate and foul rate need to be addressed. But the key is finding a leading scorer who can shoot the ball to kickstart the offense. Their second quarter-scoring will be a key trend to look at and will be decisive in taking control of the game.

Former Iran and current Qatar coach Hakan Demir, who has faced India three times, stated in an exclusive interview, “India’s team in the first window was the best team.” The stats support this claim.

In Window 3, India’s best shot-blocker, Palpreet Singh Brar (5 blocks), was absent. The team also depends on Amjyot Singh Gill, who missed the third window as well.

Kushal Singh stood out in the InBL U-25 Pro Showcase League, earning Indian MVP honours while playing for the Hyderabad Falcons. Meanwhile, Chennai Heat’s Arvinder Singh Kahlon has delivered strong performances at the national level, but the NBA Academy alumnus hasn’t received enough minutes to prove himself.

Tamil Nadu’s guard duo, Arvind Kumar Muthu Krishnan and Baladhaneshwar “Bala” Poiyamozhi, have struggled. Bala, in particular, saw limited playing time during the Showcase League while playing second fiddle to Trendon Hankerson. Arvind, on the other hand, wasn’t given the offensive reins but has shown flashes of brilliance for Chennai Heat.

Adding to India’s challenges, Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon is injured and expected to miss at least two months. Amjyot Singh Gill also won’t feature after suffering from an injury in the finals of All India Tournament in Kapurthala, Punjab.

With the heavy activity since December, the team might have more injuries. Some players decided to sit out in InBL games after they practised for the India camp during the tournament. We hope we get the best squad.

Bala might be included in the team but given the team’s preference of overloading offence, his exemption can be a possibility. Another area where the team can include better players is finding a better Guard/Forward who can fill the holes in Sahaij’s scoring from all three levels. Gurbaz Singh Sandhu can be exempted as well with a poor show in window three but his InBL performance is a strong point to let him be part of the team.

Other names that can be included are Rishabh Mathur from Services who was part of the successful trio at Hyderabad Falcons in InBL alongside Kushal and Harsh. Tushal Singh can be considered as mentioned earlier. Arvinder Singh Kahlon and Pratyanshu Tomar can be given another run.

Gurwinder Singh from Mumbai Titans also makes a strong case for his heaves and three-point scoring. Youngster Jaideep Rathore and Lokedra Singh can be reliable ball handlers given their position and can address the turnover crises. Aaron Michale Monterio from Karnataka shined in the Senior Nationals, his IQ can be an asset for the team’s run-and-gun style.

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