Team India will go to the Asia Cup 2025 with two wicket-keeper batters Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma. Both players are known for their aggressive batting style. Jitesh has the potential to deliver finishing knocks to the team while batting in the middle order while Samson has shown he can be effective as an opener. However, with Shubman Gill’s return to the T20I squad, the situation has become tricky for Samson, who was seen opening for India in the last few T20I games. With the addition of Gill to the squad, the question arises whether Samson will be able to break into India’s playing XI in the matches to be played in the continental tournament to be played next month.
During the team announcement, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar gave a statement which indicates that Samson might struggle to win a spot in India’s 11-member squad for the upcoming competition. "Sanju (Samson) opened because Jaiswal (Yashasvi) and Gill were unavailable. Gill and Sanju - two very good opening options to have alongside Abhishek Sharma. Captain & Coach will take the call after reaching Dubai," Agarkar remarked. In the absence of Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju was seen accompanying Abhishek Sharma to start innings for India against England in the five-match T20 International (T20I) series played at home in January-February.
Sanju Samson’s underwhelming 2025 performance might also go against him
Sanju Samson hasn’t delivered anything solid to Team India with his bat in 2025. Playing five games, he has amassed only 51 runs at an egregious average of 10.20 and a strike rate of 118.60. After the disappointing home series, Samson struggled in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 as well.
Appearing in nine contests for Rajasthan Royals (RR), he could score only 285 runs with a fifty. Samson’s last outing in competitive cricket came on May 20, 2025, with his presence in the game for Royals against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Delhi on May 20.
