India's Playing 11 for Asia Cup announced; Sanju Samson OUT, Shubman Gill picked opener

Ajinkya Rahane has shared his two cents on Shubman Gill’s return to India’s T20I side and its impact on Sanju Samson’s future in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, starting on September 9 in the UAE. After more than one year, Shubman Gill made a comeback to the T20I setup, and that too as vice-captain.

The veteran Indian batter said that Gill will walk straight into the playing XI in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 and that he is most likely to open alongside Abhishek Sharma for the Men in Blue. Rahane explained that both Sanju Samson and Abhishek have been excellent as the openers, scoring runs at a quick tempo and giving India explosive starts.

Ajinkya Rahane reveals his India XI for the Asia Cup 2025

But with Gill returning to the mix, one of them may have to make way for the Test captain. Rahane predicted that Abhishek will keep his place, while Sanju Samson could be the unlucky one to sit out for Gill in India’s XI as he named his playing XI for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.

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Ajinkya Rahane said on his YouTube channel, “Shubman is back in the team; I’m sure he is most likely to open with Abhishek Sharma. Personally, I would like to see Sanju Samson in the team because he has done really well. Very confident guy, very good team man. I feel that is a very important thing.”

Ajinkya Rahane backs Shubman Gill to open with Abhishek Sharma, calls Sanju Samson an unlucky miss

However, the veteran batter praised Samson, describing him as a confident cricketer and a valuable team man, but still, he feels that the team management will lean towards the Gill-Abhishek combination for the top of the order.

The Gill-Abhishek combo offers a blend of solid technique and fearless hitting that the Men in Blue would love to have in the continental tournament.

Rahane added, “Sanju is a great team man, but that’s a very good problem to have for the team management. In my opinion, probably Sanju Samson will sit out, though as I said, I would like him to play and be in the playing XI. But Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma will open the innings for the team.”

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Ajinkya Rahane hails Jasprit Bumrah-Arshdeep Singh duo as India’s trump card for Asia Cup 2025

Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane is excited to watch Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh bowl in tandem at the Asia Cup 2025. He feels the combination of Bumrah’s experience and Arshdeep’s freshness could be a major weapon for the Men in Blue in the tournament in the UAE.

The former national vice-captain further explained, “I’m really excited to see Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh bowling together in this Asia Cup. We don’t want to talk too much about Jasprit Bumrah. We all know how dangerous he is. Arshdeep Singh, a very confident guy, swings the ball both ways. He can bowl straight and wide yorkers as well.”

Rahane signed off by saying, “The 11th player will be depending on the wicket because we are playing in Dubai. Depending on the wicket and conditions, either Varun Chakaravarthy or Harshit Rana.”

Here’s Ajinkya Rahane’s playing XI for the Asia Cup 2025:

Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy/Harshit Rana.