The 2025 Asia Cup is set to kick off on September 9, marking the 17th edition of this prestigious tournament. India leads the title count with 8 wins, followed by Sri Lanka with 6, and Pakistan with 2. As anticipation builds, both India and Pakistan have announced their squads, while other participating nations are yet to finalize theirs.
A few days ago, India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, along with BCCI Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar, revealed the 15-member Indian squad for the tournament. This squad sees the return of two major names: Jasprit Bumrah and Shubman Gill, both making their comebacks after lengthy absences from T20Is. Gill last featured in a T20I in August 2024 against Sri Lanka, while Bumrah's last outing was in the T20 World Cup 2024 Final against South Africa.
Gill’s return is significant—not just because of his form and leadership—but also because he’s been named vice-captain. His inclusion almost certainly confirms him as one of the team’s openers. The real question now is: who will partner with Gill at the top? Will it be Sanju Samson or Abhishek Sharma?
There’s growing speculation that Abhishek Sharma will take the opening spot alongside Gill, potentially pushing Sanju Samson out of the opening role—or even the playing XI.
During the squad announcement press conference, Ajit Agarkar mentioned that Samson was allowed to open only because Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal were unavailable at the time. This strongly hints that with both players back, Samson is likely to be moved down the order or possibly left out of the XI altogether. As a result, his exact role in the lineup for the Asia Cup 2025 remains uncertain.
Where Could Sanju Samson Bat?
If Samson does not open, he might be slotted into the No. 6 position. However, this brings up another challenge. The current squad features just two wicketkeepers: Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma. At the No. 6 spot, Jitesh Sharma currently appears to be the more preferred option, especially based on his recent form. This raises the possibility that Samson could be benched for the tournament’s early matches.
Jitesh had a strong IPL 2025, scoring 261 runs in 11 innings, including a standout 85 off 33 balls against the Lucknow Super Giants in a must-win game. That explosive performance not only helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru qualify for Qualifier 1 but also propelled them toward their maiden IPL title. While Jitesh hasn’t had a breakout performance for India yet, his current form could earn him the edge over Samson in team selection for the Asia Cup.
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