The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) has officially unveiled the 12-player roster for the Indian men’s under-18 national team that will compete in the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026.
The announcement, shared via the official BFI account, comes just two days before the tournament tips off on August 13 at the Veer Savarkar Indoor Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. India enters the 28th edition of Asia’s premier youth basketball championship as the host nation, giving the young side a rare opportunity to play on home soil in front of supportive crowds. The tournament runs until August 23 and features 16 teams from Asia and Oceania. Beyond the continental title, the top four finishers will qualify for the FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup 2027 in Pardubice, Czechia.
Group Draw and India’s ScheduleThe 16 teams were divided into four groups of four. India was drawn into a competitive Group D alongside powerhouses Japan and South Korea, plus Kazakhstan. Full Groups:
Group A: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Philippines, Thailand
Group B: New Zealand, Lebanon, Bahrain, Syria
Group C: China, Iran, Qatar, Sri Lanka
Group D: South Korea, Japan, India, Kazakhstan
India’s group-phase schedule (all matches at Veer Savarkar Indoor Stadium, times in local IST):
Friday, August 14, 19:30 — Japan vs India
Sunday, August 16, 19:30 — India vs South Korea
Tuesday, August 18, 19:30 — India vs Kazakhstan
The group stage runs from August 13 to 18. The top team in each group advances directly to the quarter-finals. Second- and third-placed teams enter a qualification play-in on August 20. Quarter-finals follow on August 21, semi-finals and classification games on August 22, and the final (plus third-place and other ranking matches) on August 23.
The 12-player squad blends height, athleticism, and emerging talent drawn from across the country. Head coach Paramdeep Singh leads the side, supported by coaches Loganathan Thiruvengadam and Vipin Kannan, with physiotherapist Krunalkumar Rajeshkumar Chudasama.
Full Roster: Aakash Iyappan, Abhyupang Mishra, Arman, Adithya Vittal Shenoi, Harshan Yatish Babu, Joypreet Singh Sidhu, Khushnaz Singh Baidwan, Krishna Suneriya, Piyush Choudhary, Ansh Tomer, Ronaldo Allen Hopkins, Shekhar Rathee.
Several players already have notable youth credentials:
Ronaldo Allen Hopkins(6’5” / 196 cm, Bhavnagar, Gujarat) stands out as one of the most compelling stories. The forward took up basketball only in 2022 after being introduced by his mother, a former player. He progressed rapidly through the Youngsters Basketball Club, Sports Authority of Gujarat camps, and state teams. In his international debut during the 2026 SABA U18 qualifiers in Sri Lanka, he scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a dominant win over Maldives.
Joypreet Singh Sidhu(Ludhiana, Punjab) is the sole player from Punjab in the final squad. An 18-year-old product of the Ludhiana Basketball Academy, he shifted from Bathinda to train there and is currently a first-year BA student.
Adithya Vittal Shenoi and Harshan Yatish Babu(both from Karnataka) come from the successful Delhi Public School Bangalore South programme. They formed part of the Karnataka team that ended a 45-year drought by winning the Junior National Basketball Championship. Shenoi was named Most Valuable Player of that tournament, underscoring his scoring and all-around impact. Other squad members such as Piyush Choudhary (who captained earlier youth sides), Aakash Iyappan, Abhyupang Mishra, Khushnaz Singh Baidwan, and Krishna Suneriya have featured in national camps and the SABA campaign that helped build chemistry. Many are products of state academies and the expanding network of high-performance centres being developed by the BFI. Head coach Paramdeep Singh, a former Punjab and Border Security Force player, brings significant experience. He has long worked with India’s youth teams and is one of the few Indian coaches to have attended NBA coaching workshops in the United States.
Group Stage Prospects AnalysisIndia faces a demanding Group D. South Korea and Japan are the clear favorites after strong showings in the EABA qualifiers, where both finished with 3-1 records alongside China. Korea remains a traditional powerhouse with depth and physicality, while Japan brings a tall, athletic roster featuring high-school standouts and players with recent U17 World Cup experience. Kazakhstan, the CABA champions, is the weakest side on paper after sweeping weaker Central Asian opposition.
Match-by-match outlook
vs Japan (August 14): A tough opener. Japan’s size, pace, and structure make them favourites. India must harness home energy, pressure defensively, and run in transition to stay competitive and protect point differential.
vs South Korea (August 16): Another stern test against a physical, well-drilled side. Success depends on limiting three-point attempts, forcing turnovers, and generating scoring from role players.
vs Kazakhstan (August 18): A clear must-win. India should be heavy favorites and will aim for a convincing margin (20+ points) to strengthen tie-breaker position.
For Indian basketball, hosting the U18 Asia Cup represents both a milestone and a test. The sport has seen gradual growth through professional league initiatives, better infrastructure in states like Gujarat and Punjab, and stronger youth pathways. Advancing from the group and challenging for a top-four finish would provide valuable exposure for this next generation and further boost the game’s visibility at home. The boys are ready. Starting August 13, Ahmedabad will host Asia’s brightest young basketball talents. For the Indian squad, competing on home soil against the continent’s best could prove defining for their development and for the future of the sport in India.
