Suryakumar Yadav has come out in support of Sanju Samson amid heated debate surrounding the team’s ultimate Playing XI ahead of the Asia Cup 2025. India will play their first match against UAE on Wednesday at the Dubai International Stadium, but one of the biggest questions still left to be answered remains: who will be the wicketkeeper?
When asked about whether Sanju Samson will play or not, Suryakumar Yadav replied and said “Sir, I will message you the Playing XI,”
“We are actually taking really good care of him. And don’t worry. We will make the right decision tomorrow.” the Indian skipper concluded
Samson has been the choice of the season so far, but Jitesh Sharma’s regular elevation makes the decision by no means easy. With Shubman Gill established as opener after being appointed vice-captain and Abhishek Sharma lined up to open alongside him, Samson’s best bet in the XI seems to be at No. 6 where he might have to battle Jitesh directly for a spot.
Hosts UAE, meanwhile, while losing in their last tri-series against Pakistan and Afghanistan, did display some promise that must be ignored. Playing at home conditions, the minnows can still cause an upset, and India are cautious not to take them lightly.
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Stirring the mystery is India’s absence of recent T20I match cricket. Their previous assignment in the format was against England in January, and although players have been busy in the IPL, this team in particular hasn’t been able to play together for international cricket in several months. Suryakumar alluded to this factor but emphasized that these situations are sometimes inevitable in a congested calendar.
