Palpreet Singh led India Men’s Basketball team all set for FIBA Asia Cup 2025
The premier continental championship - which now also includes top Oceania teams - will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from August 5 to 17.
After five months away from international competition, the Young Cagers are back in action, and they’re heading straight into the continent’s most challenging basketball battles. The FIBA Asia Cup 2025 tournament is set to tip off in Jeddah from August 5 to 17.
Placed in Group C at the 2025 edition, India’s Senior Men’s Basketball Team will take on China, Jordan, and host nation Saudi Arabia in the high-stakes opening stages that promise no easy games.
Palpreet Singh Brar Takes Charge
Led by veteran forward Palpreet Singh Brar, the squad brings a mix of experience and youth. This will be Brar’s third Asia Cup appearance, and as the most senior player on the roster, he steps into the captaincy role.
“I'm really happy with this team,” said Brar. “We’re all excited and it’s great to see a squad full of young players. The exposure games before the tournament helped us get into a game mindset, that doesn’t happen in just training camps.”
Speaking about the country’s group stage opponents and their world ranking compared to the Indian team, Brar added:
“All the teams in our group are equally challenging. They're all ranked above us, so every game is equally important. We’re treating them all the same.”
Currently 76th in the world, India enters the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 as underdogs in a group stacked with pedigree and firepower. China, the 16-time Asia Cup champions, come in as clear favourites within the group. They are currently ranked 30th in the world. 35th ranked Jordan and Saudi Arabia, the hosts, may not have a title to their name, but both nations bring physicality and pace making Group C one of the most competitive pools.
Final Roster – Indian Senior Men’s Basketball Team
The Basketball Federation of India has announced the 12-man roster with a strong representation from Tamil Nadu, Indian Railways, and Punjab.
Pranav Prince, Tamil Nadu
Arvind Kumar Muthu Krishnan, Tamil Nadu
Muin Bek Hafeez, Tamil Nadu
Vaisakh K Manoj, Tamil Nadu
Arvinder Singh, Indian Railways
Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon, Indian Railways
Princepal Singh, Indian Railways
Palpreet Singh Brar (Captain), Indian Railways
Harsh Dagar, Uttar Pradesh
Kanwar Gurbaj Singh Sandhu, Punjab
Amaan Sandhu, Punjab
Pratyanshu Tomar, Karnataka
Coaching Staff Continuity
The team will be guided by Scott Flemming, who continues as Head Coach. Assisting him yet again are coaches GRL Prasad and Sambhaji Kadam. The support team also includes Siva Shanmuga Singh as the physiotherapist, Dr. Eswar as the team doctor, and Shafiq Shaikh as the head of the Indian delegation.
“Scott Flemming’s coaching has been great and has made a huge difference. His NBA experience, USA Basketball style, and 50 years of coaching experience have helped us a lot,” shared Brar.
Qualification Struggles
India Punch Tickets to 11th Straight FIBA Asia Cup with thrilling 81-77 win over Bahrain
Khalifa Sports City, Bahrain: Early this morning, as most of India slept, India Basketball was finally waking up from its forced slumber.
A total of 16 national teams will compete in this prestigious tournament, including hosts Saudi Arabia.
Although India made it to the final list of qualified nations, the country’s path to the main tournament was anything but straightforward. After a disappointing group stage in the Asia Cup Qualifiers, the Indian team bounced back with resilience and determination in the Final Qualifying Tournament, held in Manama, Bahrain, in March 2025.
The team’s spirited wins against host Bahrain secured them a spot in Jeddah and marked India’s 11th consecutive FIBA Asia Cup appearance, a streak that began in 2001.
India’s Past Asia Cup Record
In the previous edition of the FIBA Asia Cup held in 2022 in Indonesia, India endured a tough campaign, finishing last out of 16 teams. The Indian cagers played three group-stage games, suffering defeats in all, and failed to progress to the knockout rounds. Australia emerged as the champions that year.
India has a long-standing history in the FIBA Asia Cup, having participated in numerous editions. While the Indian cagers have often struggled against higher-ranked Asian teams, there have been memorable moments along the way, with one of their best performances being a 4th place finish in the 1975 edition held in Bangkok.
India’s Group Stage Fixtures
India vs Jordan – 5th August | 16:30 IST
India vs China – 7th August | 13:30 IST
India vs Saudi Arabia – 9th August | 20:30 IST
How to watch?
All the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 games will be streamed live on:
FanCode App (Rs 29/- for all India games or Rs 69/- for full tournament)
Courtside1891 App (on a $9.99/- event subscription)
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