Team India’s Asia Cup 2025 Sanju Samson’s Spot, Squad Predictions, and Captaincy

With just one month left for the T20 Asia Cup in the UAE, excitement is building. The tournament begins on September 9, and India will face the hosts on the very next day. While there’s curiosity about who will make the 17-member squad and who might miss out, the biggest question is: Will Sanju Samson play this time? Currently, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are the openers. However, in the five-match England series, they failed to forge a single partnership above 50 runs.

Abhishek, ranked number one and in top form, has a secure spot. But Sanju faces competition from Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who performed brilliantly in the England series, as well as Sai Sudharsan, who shone in the IPL and is eyeing the opening slot. Gill last played T20Is in July last year, focusing on ODIs and Tests since then. Jaiswal, too, hasn’t played international T20Is for over a year. If they aren’t considered for the shorter format, Sanju is likely to retain the opening slot.

Let’s review Sanju’s performance. He has played 42 international T20 matches, scoring 861 runs at a strike rate of 152. Among those vying for the opening slot, Sanju has the best strike rate after Abhishek. However, injuries caused him to miss several matches in the last IPL season.

Another possibility is the wicketkeeper-batter role. India has a long list of contenders, including Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Prabhsimran Singh. Now, let’s look at the broader team composition. Who will feature in the middle order? Shreyas Iyer, who scored 604 runs for Punjab Kings in the IPL, is a strong contender. With 949 runs in 25 T20 matches, Shreyas is staking a claim. The question is whether he or Tilak Varma will join Suryakumar Yadav in the middle order.

The abundance of all-rounders poses another challenge. Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Hardik Pandya are certainties. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rinku Singh, known for explosive lower-order batting, are in the reckoning. Will our fan-favorite “DSP” Siraj return? After his stellar performance in the England Test series, Mohammed Siraj could secure a spot in the T20 team. Arshdeep Singh is likely to cement his place, but Jasprit Bumrah’s participation remains uncertain.

Given the slow pitches in the UAE, India might opt for more spinners. Alongside Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav could make the squad. The team is almost set, but who will be the captain? Suryakumar Yadav currently leads India in T20Is but is recovering from hernia surgery at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. His match fitness is uncertain. If Suryakumar is unavailable, a replacement captain will be needed. While vice-captain Axar Patel is an option, there’s no certainty. Hardik Pandya, Test captain Shubman Gill, or Shreyas Iyer could also be considered.

The team announcement is expected next week. Let’s see who will don the blue jersey and take the field for this exciting battle!