Veteran cricketer Sunil Gavaskar believes that India will make every effort to include Sanju Samson in the Playing XI during the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, irrespective of the batting slot he is given. As Shubman Gill has been appointed vice-captain and tipped to open, fans and experts agreed that Sanju Samson’s place in the XI is up for debate now.

Gavaskar pointed out that it is difficult for the team management to decide the batting order and will have a tough time deciding between Sanju Samson’s ongoing form and Jitesh Sharma’s impressive performances during the IPL 2025, which facilitated Royal Challengers Bengaluru on their route to the title.

“I think 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. And Jitesh has also done well in the recently concluded IPL, where he's played exceedingly well. So yes, I think it's a pleasant headache for the tour selection committee,” Gavaskar told India Today.

Samson vs Jitesh: A selection dilemma

The former India skipper further explained that Samson’s presence in the squad makes it difficult to overlook him in the XI. “If you take somebody like Sanju Samson in the core team, then you can't leave him out in the reserves. But my feeling is that maybe Samson will probably get the nod ahead of Jitesh for at least the first couple of games. And then, depending on what his form is for the rest of the tournament. But this is what I think will happen,” he added.

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At the squad announcement, Jitesh Sharma was named as the first-choice wicketkeeper. However, Gavaskar stressed that Samson’s experience and leadership qualities make him invaluable. With the Asia Cup set to begin on September 9, the decision on who starts behind the stumps will be one of the key talking points for India.