Sanju Samson will be on the field for the India vs UAE match in the 2025 T20 Asia Cup. But not batting, fielding or wicketkeeping, but running the drinks. That’s what cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra thinks.
India can’t fit Samson
His opinion isn’t fresh. Since Shubman Gill was named India’s vice-captain for the Asia Cup, it was virtually confirmed that Samson will lose the opener spot to Gill, and Jitesh Sharma will be the designated wicketkeeper.
However good Samson’s record may be, can Team India drop their deputy for him? The simple and most logical answer is no. Also, there are a few chinks. Samson scored three hundreds in the last 12 T20Is, but he didn’t cross the 30-run mark in any other innings. He also recorded five single-digit scores, including two back-to-back ducks.
“No place for Samson because Gill is picked not just as a batter but as a VC. He plays. And that shuts the door for Sanju,” Aakash wrote on X.
Shivam Dube over Kuldeep Yadav
For the former India opener, Kuldeep Yadav and Rinku Singh can’t find spots either. Shivam Dube will play ahead of both against the UAE. Why? Because Dube provides an all-rounder option. Yes, his bowling isn’t exactly great, but it’s more than what Rinku gives with the ball and Kuldeep with the bat.
“No Kuldeep because modern-day T20 demands batting till 8. Dube steals the march over Rinku as he offers a bowling option and he was brilliant vs Eng anyway,” he further wrote.
We have seen how Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir like batting depth and multiple bowling options, and that’s what this team would do. Naturally, Harshit Rana sits out. He was picked as the backup pacer and will only come in if either Jasprit Bumrah or Arshdeep Singh is rested or injured.
Aakash Chopra’s India Playing XI vs UAE
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (vc), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
Bench: Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana
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