Former India off-spinner R Ashwin has excluded Sanju Samson from his predicted playing XI for India’s Asia Cup 2025 opening match against UAE in Dubai, instead backing Shubman Gill for the opening slot. Ashwin revealed his preferred lineup on his YouTube channel, where he also predicted Gill to emerge as the tournament’s leading run-scorer.Ashwin’s decision to leave out his former Rajasthan Royals teammate Samson stems from the consideration that the 30-year-old Kerala wicketkeeper hasn’t played as a finisher in the side. He suggests that India should instead opt for Jitesh Sharma at the number 5 position.
Ashwin expressed confidence in the opening combination of Gill and Abhishek Sharma, suggesting their partnership could be intimidating for opponents. “Shubman Gil and Abhishek Sharma. Folks get scared with that opening combination. Shubman Gill knows he needs to make runs, and he will want to make runs. He is a run machine. He can make big runs at a lower strike rate,” Ashwin stated.The former off-spinner emphasized Gill’s versatility in T20 cricket, highlighting his ability to adapt to different batting approaches. “Abhishek Sharma will tee off at one end. Shubman Gill could be the glue around which the team is built up. In today’s times, there is not a lot of need to become the glue in T20 cricket. But Shubman has it in him to play conventional cricket and still make a 100 off 55 balls,” Ashwin explained.The selection debate between Samson and other players continues to be a topic of discussion as India prepare for their opening match. Ashwin’s analysis suggests that team composition and role clarity are crucial factors in the selection process.India XI by Ashwin: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah.
