Asia Cup 2025: 'He cannot be left among the reserves' - Former international captain bats for this player's inclusion in India's XI

Sunil Gavaskar urged the Indian team management to select Sanju Samson in India's playing XI during the impending Asia Cup. Samson and Jitesh Sharma are the two wicketkeeper-batters picked in India's squad for the eight-team tournament.

Samson has been a regular starter for India in T20I cricket after Gautam Gambhir took up the role of the head coach. In 14 T20Is under Gambhir, the Kerala batter has amassed over 400 runs, including three centuries. However, with Shubman Gill returning to the T20I setup and also being named vice-captain, there is a cloud of uncertainty over Samson's place in the side, as the Punjab batter will most likely open the batting because of his success from that position in the Indian Premier League.

However, Gavaskar believes that dropping Samson would be a mistake. He suggested that the management should consider utilising Samson’s versatility, either at No. 3 or lower down the order.

"If you take somebody like Sanju Samson in the core team, then you can't leave him out in the reserves," Gavaskar was quoted as saying by India Today ahead of the continental competition.

"Yes, 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," he added.

Samson will probably get the nod ahead of Jitesh for at least the first couple of games: Gavaskar

Gavaskar also feels that Samson would start ahead of Jitesh for at least the first two matches in the tournament.

"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," Gavaskar said.

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Gavaskar also feels that there could be a possibility of having Samson bat at No. 3, with Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya to follow.

"But that is why I think maybe they might even be thinking in terms of having him (Samson) at number three and having Tilak as a finisher at five or six. Because Hardik (Pandya) is in your team as well. So, Hardik will probably be batting at five or six again."