Follow UsIndia have a problem of plenty at the top, with Gujarat Titans’ skipper Shubman Gill returning to the squad for the Asia Cup 2025, on August 19 (Tuesday).
But Gill’s selection brings about a major headache for the selectors, as Gill’s preferred position is at the top of the order, where the duo of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have been causing havoc.
If Samson does sit out, India would have to play Jitesh Sharma as the wicketkeeper option, who would sit nicely in the lower order, adding firepower to India’s batting unit.
Jitesh earned himself a recall after the wicketkeeper batter smashed 261 runs in RCB’s victorious IPL 2025 campaign, where he had a strike rate of 176.35, with 17 sixes. Alternatively, India could line up with the same playing 11, without Shubman Gill, which will add more firepower to the middle order.
So, how will India’s strongest playing XI shape for the Asia Cup 2025 opener against the United Arab Emirates on September 10?
Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, (c) Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube/Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy