WATCH: Gautam Gambhir closely monitors Sanju Samson ahead of IND vs UAE Asia Cup 2025 clash

Indian team management is yet to take a final call on whether to play Sanju Samson in the first game of the Asia Cup 2025. The Indian squad with multiple openers and keeper-batters makes the way a little bit more competitive for Sanju Samson to make his way to the playing XI.

India is scheduled to play their first match of the tournament tomorrow (September 10, 2025) against the United Arab Emirates (IND vs UAE). Ahead of the clash, head of Gautam Gambhir was spotted spending some time with Samson during a practice session. It is reported that Gambhir was closely monitoring the glove work of Sanju.

For the wicketkeeper position, the competition is mainly between Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson. And for the opening spots, the 30-year-old is competing with Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. BCCI named Gill as the deputy of India's T20I skipper Surya Kumar Yadav, so he is definitely going to play the first match.

Read More: 'I've bowled him a lot...'- UAE bowler recalled early days of Shubman Gill ahead of IND vs UAE Asia Cup 2025 match

Will Sanju Samson played the match against UAE?

Abhishek has been in excellent form after making his T20I debut for the Men in Blue. In this situation, the possibility of Sanju opening the innings is not very bright. Samson showed the mostbatting during the KCL 2025 with the Kochi Blue Tigers. But most of his runs came as an opener. He tried to make a positive impact as a middle-order batter as well but failed to impress. If the Indian team management decides to start their innings with Abhishek and Shubman, then where can Sanju play? The question remains. 

India's squad for Asia Cup 2025: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh