Indian cricket team had started preparing for the Asia Cup 2025 at the ICC Academy in Dubai, but the limelight soon came back on Sanju Samson’s unclear role. Samson had little batting time and did not feature during fielding practice, whereas his competitor Jitesh Sharma was shown an extra wicket-keeping practice. The indications indicate that Samson may suffer a huge blow during the tournament’s opening match against the UAE.
Who Spent Time in the Nets?
The net session witnessed Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Jitesh Sharma spend considerable time batting, as they faced the likes of Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah. Interestingly, Gill and Abhishek were together, something which stresses their probable role as openers.
Finisher Rinku Singh also had a lot of work against spin, dealing with deliveries from Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Axar Patel. Varun is said to have bowled the most prolonged spell of the day before practicing catching with fielding coach T Dilip, putting his recent fielding woes to rest.
Where Does Sanju Samson Stand?
Samson’s part has been a subject of controversy in India’s white-ball teams for long. Though he has played some even better T20I innings with the bat, most of those came at the opening slot a slot now secured for Gill and Abhishek. His limited net batting and no wicketkeeping practice, firmly points out that Jitesh Sharma is being favored as the preferred keeper.
This is a blow to Samson, who was looking to solidify his place before the 2025 Champions Trophy and coming white-ball tasks.
How are the Team Dynamics Coming Together?
The drill wasn’t merely a rehearsal but also planning. Head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen engaged in a heated conversation with skipper Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill, perhaps outlining plans for the Asia Cup campaign.
In the meantime, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube spun their arms over in the nets, indicating India’s all-round ability is still a key concern ahead of the opener.
What Does This Mean for Samson’s Asia Cup Chances?
If the first nets session was anything to judge from, Samson might not find a place in India’s starting XI for the UAE match. His lack of participation in fielding drills and limited batting time have led to questions about his position in the side, while Jitesh Sharma’s increasing involvement points to a changing of the guard behind the stumps.
India begin their Asia Cup in Dubai with the definite intention of finding a balance between youth and experience but Samson’s exclusion may prove to be one of the biggest talking points of the tournament.
