FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers: India face Kazakhstan in final Chennai home game

After being blown out by Qatar 53 - 69 on Friday, India will be keen for its first win in the FIBA Asia Qualifiers 2025, when they take on Kazakhstan later this evening.

Chennai, 25 November 2024: After being blown out by Qatar 53 - 69 on Friday, India will be keen for its first win in the FIBA Asia Qualifiers 2025, when they take on Kazakhstan later this evening. 

As acknowledged by Head Coach Scott Fleming, the Indian Senior Men’s Basketball team is still under development:

“We'll be ready. I know some of those shots will go down…”

India remains 0-3, and Coach Fleming emphasized that the goal is to first win a game. India is now on the verge of elimination from the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, and another loss will virtually end their progression chances with two more away games remaining in February. 

India vs Kazakhstan: What to expect?

India Head Coach Scott Flemming will have a lot on his mind as the side takes on Kazakhstan later this evening. Image credit - FIBA.com

Last time India and Kazakhstan played each other in Astana earlier this year, the Young Cagers were comprehensively beaten 50-63.

Coach Fleming has stressed that Kazakhstan is perhaps not as athletic as Qatar. This could well mean that India’s bigs can be expected to have a bigger impact around the basket. This should, in turn, free up India’s shooters for more open looks from the perimeter. 

A key question will be whether Coach Fleming gives more playing time to bench warmers like P Baladhaneshwar and Kushal Singh. The former entered the game only in the fourth quarter, while the latter was a ‘Did Not Play - Coach’s Decision’.

How to Watch?

The Chennai crowd will be back to cheer on the Indian Men’s National Basketball Team at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, on Monday, November 25, 2024.

For those watching remotely, the game starts at 18:00 IST on FIBA's YouTube channel.

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