Asia Cup 2025 India squad: Vaibhav Suryavanshi tipped to snatch Sanju Samson's spot

Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman and BCCI selector, Kris Srikkanth, has backed the 14-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi to snatch Sanju Samson's Asia Cup 2025 spot.

Kris Srikkanth said that Vaibhav Suryavanshi should open the innings with Abhishek Sharma in the Asia Cup 2025, with Sanju Samson being axed from the playing XI.

India's set T20I opening pair - Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma

Team India have got a set opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson in T20I cricket. The duo have been doing a good job together at the top and have played some memorable knocks for the side.

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In modern-day T20 cricket, there is an urgent requirement for explosive starts, and both Abhishek and Samson are fully equipped to play ultra-aggressive cricket from the very first delivery.

Samson and Abhishek have received good backing from the Gautam Gambhir-led team management to play their natural game without worrying about their place in the team.

And the opening batters have repaid the faith of the team management by taking India off to great starts in T20I matches and going berserk from ball one.

Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have also received backing from the former cricketers and experts to continue as openers in the Asia Cup 2025 despite Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal waiting in the wings. However, one former Indian cricketer - Kris Srikkanth - wants a change in the opening pair.

Abhishek Sharma would be my No. 1 choice. No. 2, would be Vaibhav Suryavanshi or Sai Sudharsan: Kris Srikkanth

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Cheeky Cheeka', Kris Srikkanth highlighted how Sanju Samson struggled against short balls in the home T20I series against England and said that he should be dropped from the team.

He added that either Vaibhav Suryavanshi or Sai Sudharsan should replace Sanju Samson in the playing XI and open with Abhishek Sharma. The 1983 World Cup winner lauded Vaibhav Suryavanshi for his wonderful debut in IPL 2025 and backed him to play the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. He said:

"Sanju Samson was found wanting against the short ball against England. According to me, it's doubtful that he will open. If I was a selector, Abhishek Sharma would be my No. 1 choice. No. 2, I would go for either Vaibhav Suryavanshi or Sai Sudharsan."

"I would have Vaibhav Suryavanshi in my 15-member T20 World Cup squad as well. He is playing brilliantly."

I will also bring in Shreyas Iyer - Kris Srikkanth

Srikkanth also threw the name of Yashasvi Jaiswal alongside Sai Sudharsan and Vaibhav Suryavanshi to partner Abhishek Sharma at the top and stated that Sanju Samson or Jitesh Sharma can play a wicketkeeper-batsman.

He further called for the return of Shreyas Iyer to the T20I setup after his stellar IPL 2025 and named him as a certainty alongside Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya.

"Sai Sudharsan is the Orange Cap holder. He has been doing very well and Yashasvi Jaiswal as well. So, one of Sudharsan, Suryavanshi or Jaiswal should open with Abhishek. That would be my choice. This is a very competitive world. The choice can be between Samson and Jitesh Sharma as the keeper-batter. I will also bring in Shreyas Iyer. Shreyas, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel are certainties," he concluded.

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