Asia Cup 2025: Prediction master Shashank Singh picks his winner, most runs, most wickets and Player of the Tournament [Exclusive]

Published - 13 Sept 2025, 19:45 IST | Updated - 13 Sept 2025, 20:07 IST

In an exclusive interaction with CricTracker, Punjab Kings (PBKS) middle-order batter Shashank Singh recently shared his predictions for the Asia Cup 2025, naming his favourites for the title, top performers, and Player of the Tournament. For the unversed, the PBKS cricketer became a favourite among fans for accurately predicting his side's positioning in the IPL 2025 points table.

When it came to batting honours, the Chhattisgarh cricketer placed his bet on Shubman Gill to finish as the leading run-scorer. Gill, fresh from an impressive Test series against England, has been entrusted with the vice-captaincy alongside Suryakumar Yadav. Although India’s opening match left little room for batting exploits, Gill looked solid and is expected to play a key role at the top of the order as the competition progresses.

For the bowling department, Shashank named Varun Chakravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah as his favourites to claim the most wickets. The mystery leg-spinner and India’s ace pacer both impressed in the opener against the UAE, Chakravarthy snaring one wicket while Bumrah delivered a trademark yorker that rattled the stumps. He believes that their ability to strike in crunch situations could tilt games in India’s favour.

As for the Player of the Tournament, Shashank backed Hardik Pandya. The Indian all-rounder was a standout performer during the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, playing match-winning roles with both bat and ball. Shashank expects Pandya to once again be the difference-maker in a high-pressure tournament.

India’s next challenge will be a blockbuster clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday, September 14 in Dubai. Pakistan also opened their campaign with a victory over Oman and will be eager to continue their momentum.

Shashank backed India to lift the continental trophy, highlighting their strong start to the competition. The Men in Blue began their campaign with an emphatic win over the United Arab Emirates, chasing down a modest 58-run target in just 4.3 overs. The clinical victory not only secured two points but also gave India a significant boost to their net run-rate (NRR).

Interestingly, Shashank himself is in fine form, having produced a memorable unbeaten 61 off 30 balls in the IPL 2025 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Despite his heroics, PBKS finished runners-up in the cash-rich league. He is next expected to feature for his state team Chhattisgarh, where he plays as an all-rounder, and will be looking to carry forward the momentum and come out with a favourable domestic season 2025-26.