"Was no-brainer...'- Former India star settles selection debate between Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma ahead of Asia Cup 2025
The former Indian captain and the opening batter has shed light on the selection debate between the two wicket-keepers, Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma, in the national side ahead of the Men's T20 Asia Cup 2025.
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The former Indian opening batter and captain of the national side, Sunil Gavaskar, has settled the selection debate between the two wicket-keeper batters of the side, Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma, ahead of the upcoming Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, which is scheduled to begin on September 09 in the UAE.
Gavaskar reckoned that Sanju Samson, despite his struggle in the five-match home T20I series against England earlier this year, would be the front-runner to get into the eleven. The Kerala batter has smashed a total of 861 T20I runs in 38 innings at a strike rate of 152.38 with two fifties and three centuries.
“It’s a very good headache to have for any selection committee that you have two capable batters and somebody like Sanju Samson who can maybe even bat at three, and if needed, come down at six as a finisher. Jitesh has also done well in the recently concluded IPL. But my feeling is that Samson will probably get the nod.” Gavaskar expressed on Sony Sports Network.
Sunil Gavaskar picks Sanju Samson to get nod for India in Asia Cup 2025
Samson has been in tremendous form during the Kerala Premier League (KPL) 2025, having collected 368 runs in five innings at an average of 73.60 and a strike rate of 186.80 with 24 boundaries and 30 sixes. He isn’t expected to bat at the opening position after Shubman Gill getting the vice-captaincy.
“Looking at the way he batted in this T20 format in the IPL, it was a no-brainer. He has been very successful in the T20 format for the IPL, so there is no question that he has the capability of doing well in T20. In the kind of form that he is in, where he has scored more than 750 runs in the just concluded Test series.” Gavaskar addressed Sony Sports.
Jitesh Sharma, on the other hand, was in golden touch during the IPL 2025 for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), helping him earn the title. The right-handed batter has clubbed 261 runs in 11 innings at an average of 37.28 and a strike rate of 176.35 with one fifty.
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