India is all set to kick off its Asia Cup 2025 campaign against the UAE on September 10. However, one big question remains unanswered — who will be the two openers for Team India?
Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah are making their return to India’s 15-member T20 squad after a significant gap. While some experts felt both players could have been rested for this tournament, the selectors have opted to bring them back into the mix, with Gill even being named vice-captain.
With Gill’s inclusion, the debate intensifies: will he open the innings or slot into the middle order like he does in Tests? If he opens, it could push Sanju Samson not just out of the top order, but possibly out of the playing XI altogether. While the management might consider using Sanju in a finisher’s role, his track record in the lower order hasn’t been particularly strong.
This creates an opening for Jitesh Sharma, who has experience as a lower-order power hitter. But Sanju has made a strong case for himself with recent form — especially in the KCL — and support from former players. Mohammad Kaif has publicly stated that Samson should be in the starting XI, suggesting he could bat at number 3.
That, however, brings us to another headache: Tilak Varma. Ranked # №2 in the ICC T20I batting rankings, Tilak has been playing consistently at # №3 and has been a vital cog in the team’s recent dominance under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership. Dropping him would be a tough call; the management might not be willing to make it.
With so much talent and form in the squad, selecting the playing XI for the opening match in the Asia Cup 2025 won’t be easy. But regardless of who is left out, it’s clear that someone will miss out despite deserving a spot — and that, in itself, reflects the healthy competition and depth in the current Indian T20 side.
India Squad For The Asia Cup 2025
Suryakumar Yadav ©, Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh
Travel Reserve: Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Prasidh Krishna
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