As India gears up for the Asia Cup 2025, set to kick off on September 9 in the UAE, former Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane has weighed in on what could be a major selection call. According to Rahane, Sanju Samson may be left out of India’s playing XI to make way for Shubman Gill, who has not only returned to the T20I squad after over a year but has also been named vice-captain—a strong hint that he’ll feature in the starting lineup.
Sanju Samson’s Inconsistent Run and Gill’s Return
Sanju Samson’s recent T20I form has been a mixed bag. While he has notched up three centuries in his last 18 innings, the rest of his performances have left much to be desired—just 160 runs at an average of 11.4, including eight scores of 5 or below. His struggles continued in India’s last T20I series against England in February, where he managed scores of 16, 1, 3, 5, and 26.
Although Samson had a decent IPL 2025 campaign, scoring 285 runs in nine matches at an average of 35.63 and a strike rate of 140.4, injuries hampered his rhythm.
In contrast, Shubman Gill has had a strong domestic season and his elevation to vice-captain signals that the team management sees him as a key part of the top order. Rahane believes Gill will open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma, who has impressed with his aggressive starts.
Rahane’s Probable India XI for Asia Cup 2025
Rahane, speaking on his YouTube channel (as quoted by TOI), said:
“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. He is a very confident guy, a very good team man, and that is very important. But in my opinion, probably Sanju Samson will sit out.”
Rahane went on to express excitement about Jasprit Bumrah’s return to the T20I side for the first time since the 2024 T20 World Cup, calling him a key weapon alongside Arshdeep Singh, who brings left-arm variety and skill with the new ball and at the death.
“I’m really excited to see Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh bowling together in this Asia Cup. We all know how dangerous Bumrah is. Arshdeep swings the ball both ways and can deliver both straight and wide yorkers.”
Here’s Ajinkya Rahane’s predicted playing XI for India in the Asia Cup 2025:
- Shubman Gill
- Abhishek Sharma
- Tilak Varma
- Suryakumar Yadav (captain)
- Hardik Pandya
- Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper)
- Axar Patel
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Arshdeep Singh
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Varun Chakaravarthy or Harshit Rana
With the Asia Cup 2025 serving as crucial preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup, all eyes will be on how India balances youth and experience—and whether Sanju Samson can force his way back into the XI.
