FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers: India Men’s Basketball Roster Announced
India will face off against Iran in Tehran on February 21, 2025, and Qatar in Doha on February 24, 2025.
The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) has officially released the roster for the Senior Men’s National Team ahead of the much-awaited FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers (Round 1 Window 3). India will face off against Iran in Tehran on February 21, 2025, and Qatar in Doha on February 24, 2025.
With the Indian Basketball Team aiming to secure a place in the Asia Cup, the squad selection has raised eyebrows firstly for its mix of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers, but also for some obvious missing names.
India’s Roster for FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers (Round 1 Window 3)
Players:
Pratyanshu Tomar- Power Forward - 203 cms / 6’8’’ - Age 24 - Karnataka
Arvinder Singh- Small Forward - 200 cms / 6’7’’ - Age 22 - Indian Railways
Pranav Prince- Small Forward - 200 cms / 6’7’’ - Age 21 - Kerala/Tamil Nadu
Amritpal Singh- Center - 208 cms / 6’10’’ - Age 34 - Punjab Police
Princepal Singh- Center - 208 cms / 6’10’ - Age 24 - Indian Railways
Vishesh Bhriguvanshi - Guard - 192 cms / 6’4’’ - Age 33 - Delhi/ONGC
Kanwar Gurbaz Singh - Shooting Guard - 185 cms / 6’1’’ - Age 25 - Punjab
Joginder Singh Saharan- Point Guard - 175 cm / 5'9" - Age 36 - Delhi/Services
P Baladhaneshwar - Point Guard - 180 cms / 5’11’’ - Age 25 - Tamil Nadu
Arvind Kumar Muthu Krishnan - Point Guard - 187 cms / 6’2’’ - Age 24 - Tamil Nadu
Muin Bek- Point Guard - 189 cms / 6’2’’ - Age 28 - Indian Bank
Harsh Dagar- Shooting Guard - 189 cms / 6’2’’ - Age 20 - Uttar Pradesh Police
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Scott Flemming
Assistant Coaches: GRL Prasad & Sambhaji Kadam
Physio: Siva Shanmuga Singh
Veterans’ Comeback
The India Basketball roster sees the return of seasoned players like Amritpal Singh and Vishesh Bhriguvanshi, who bring experience, strength, and leadership to the team.
In a very surprising move, the squad also features the return of Joginder Singh Saharan, who is making his comeback as a player after serving as an assistant coach in the previous window. Although Saharan does bring a sense of leadership on the court, especially with his experience in high-pressure situations, his inclusion raises doubts. Why has the BFI not looked to add younger, fresher players to the squad?
The much-awaited debut of Pratyanshu Tomar, a versatile stretch forward, comes at the expense of veteran, Amjyot Singh. While the prospect of filling such big shoes is daunting, it also presents a very exciting opportunity for Tomar to make a name for himself on an international stage.
Other notable absences include Palpreet Singh and Sahaij Sekhon.
With India aiming for a place in the 2025 Asia Cup, now would be a good time to test and develop young talent, preparing them for the challenges ahead. Pratyanshu Tomar’s inclusion is a step in the right direction, but there need to be 3-4 more Tomars on the team to help lay the groundwork for India’s future success.
Head Coach Scott Flemming now faces the task of proving that this line-up can deliver success in the Qualifiers.
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