The Indian men’s basketball team clinched a hard-fought 81-77 victory over Bahrain at Khalifa Sports City on Saturday, securing their place in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.
In a tense contest against world No. 66 Bahrain, India, ranked 81st in the FIBA men’s basketball rankings, displayed remarkable resilience to overcome a late deficit and seal the win in the final qualifying round.
India finished at the top of Group H after winning both their matches in the final phase of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers. They had earlier registered a dominant 97-77 win over Iraq on Friday.
India Qualifies for 11th Consecutive FIBA Asia Cup
This round of the qualifiers featured six third-placed teams from the previous stage, competing for the last four spots in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, which will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from August 5 to 17.
The teams were divided into two groups, with the top two from each group earning qualification. India’s back-to-back wins secured them the Group H title, while Iraq and Bahrain will battle for the second qualification spot on Sunday.
Harsh Dagar Shines as India Edges Bahrain in a Nail-Biter
Against Bahrain, Harsh Dagar emerged as the standout performer, leading India with a game-high 28 points. He was in sublime form from beyond the arc, shooting an impressive 6-of-8 while also contributing three rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Kanwar Sandhu added 15 points, while Pranav Prince and Muin Bek Hafeez chipped in with 11 points and eight rebounds each. The duo also combined for eight assists.
India started strong, with Dagar setting the tone early from long range. They controlled the game for most of the contest and entered the fourth quarter with a 62-53 lead. However, hosts Bahrain staged a spirited comeback, led by Subah Azzam, to take a 77-75 advantage with under two minutes remaining.
Krishnan Delivers in the Clutch
With the game on the line, Arvind Krishnan stepped up in the clutch, curling off a screen to drain a crucial three-pointer from the left wing, putting India back in front at 78-77 with 1:39 remaining.
Although Krishnan momentarily lost possession with a turnover, he quickly made amends by snatching a vital steal from Wayne Chism. Moments later, Hafeez split a pair of free throws to extend India’s lead to two points.
Bahrain had one final opportunity, but Prince forced a crucial turnover, intercepting Mosti Rashed’s inbound pass intended for Mohammed Ameer. With just 11 seconds left on the clock, India regained possession, leaving the hosts with little room for a comeback.
Bahrain resorted to fouling in a desperate attempt to prolong the game, but Krishnan calmly sank both free throws to seal India’s 11th consecutive FIBA Asia Cup qualification, a streak that dates back to 2001.
Road to the FIBA World Cup 2027
India’s victory over Bahrain not only secured their place in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 but also earned them a spot in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, marking another major milestone for Indian basketball.
