WATCH: Jitesh Sharma sharpens wicketkeeping skills in Dubai ahead of 2025 Asia Cup

Team India wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma was spotted putting in the hard yards with fielding coach T. Dilip during an intense keeping drill in Dubai ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup. The Men in Blue arrived in batches on Thursday, September 4, and held their first practice session the following day. During training, Sanju Samson was seen sitting nearby, carefully observing Jitesh’s movements.

Suryakumar Yadav’s India have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts UAE, Pakistan, and Oman. Their campaign will begin against UAE on Wednesday, September 10, followed by the highly anticipated clash against Pakistan on Sunday, September 14. The final group-stage game will see them face Oman on Friday, September 19, in Abu Dhabi.

The selection debate around India’s wicketkeeper-batter choice has been heating up, with fans and experts divided between Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma. Both players remain in the conversation to play in the tournament and their differing profiles have only added to the conversation taking place in the run-up to the tournament.

Irfan Pathan weighs in on Samson vs Jitesh debate

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan weighed in on the wicketkeeper-batter debate for the 2025 Asia Cup, stating that both Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma have done well, making the call a tricky one. He said, “The talking point about Sanju Samson is important because it’s not like the guy wasn’t performing. It’s also not like Jitesh Sharma, who came into the team, didn’t perform. He has performed solidly. He has batted brilliantly for RCB. But I am looking at whether Sanju Samson can bat at number five. Because Axar Patel does the floater’s job. But one, two, three, and four are set. Tilak Verma, in my opinion, has performed very well. He should get a place at number three, in my opinion.”

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Pathan further added that Suryakumar Yadav fits well at number four, while Samson could be pushed to number five to reward his recent performances and his ability to play spin. “At four, his average is better. His strike rate is almost the same as a number-three batting average. But if Sanju Samson… can he bat well at five, because he also plays spin well? What we have to see is who is playing better in the nets on old balls, Jitesh or Sanju Samson. I would still like to push Sanju Samson to play, but this will remain a marginal call,” he explained. So far, Samson has scored 861 runs in 38 innings with two fifties and three hundreds, while Jitesh has 100 runs from seven innings. Pathan believes the Asia Cup could be decisive in determining India’s long-term wicketkeeper-batter.