Ahead of India’s Asia Cup 2025 campaign in the UAE, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has weighed in on the tricky selection puzzle surrounding Sanju Samson. The former skipper believes the Kerala batter, if picked in India’s core squad, should not be left on the bench.
Speaking to the media, Gavaskar said,
“If you take somebody like Sanju Samson in the core team, then you can’t leave him out in the reserves. He is capable of batting at No.3, and if needed, he can also slot in lower down as a finisher.”
Samson faces competition from Jitesh Sharma, who impressed in the IPL as a finisher, while Tilak Varma and skipper Suryakumar Yadav usually occupy the middle-order spots. Gavaskar suggested a potential strategy where Samson bats at No.3, Tilak moves down the order, and Hardik Pandya slots in at five or six.
The veteran analyst also highlighted the tough call on who might sit out, pointing to Rinku Singh or Shivam Dube as possibilities, while Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to take the spin slots and Harshit Rana the third pacer role.
India’s first Asia Cup match is against UAE on September 10, followed by the blockbuster clash with Pakistan on September 14, and finishing group stage against Oman on September 19. Gavaskar feels Samson will likely get a nod in at least the opening games, with his performance deciding further opportunities.
With strategic depth and multiple batting options, India is looking to start their Asia Cup title defence on a strong note.
