‘Can’t keep Samson in reserves’: Gavaskar on India’s Asia Cup XI dilemma
Sunil Gavaskar says Sanju Samson must feature in India's Asia Cup XI, sparking a selection dilemma with Jitesh Sharma and others in the squad.
New Delhi: As India gears up for the Asia Cup starting September 9 in the UAE, Sanju Samson's role in the squad has already sparked debates. Former skipper Sunil Gavaskar believes that if a player of Samson's calibre is part of the 15, he should not be left warming the bench. According to the legendary opener, the batting order should find space for the Kerala wicketkeeper-batter.
With Shubman Gill back in the T20 set-up as vice-captain, his spot alongside Abhishek Sharma at the top is more or less fixed. That leaves the team management with the tricky decision of whether to slot Samson at No.3 or hand the role to Jitesh Sharma who has been used as a finisher.
While Gavaskar was clear in his stance that Samson deserves more than just a reserve tag. "If you take somebody like Sanju Samson in the core team, then you can’t leave him out in the reserves,” he said while interacting with reporters before the tournament. He suggested Samson could walk in at No.3, giving India a dynamic top order while also retaining the flexibility to bat lower down if required.
At the same time, he also acknowledged the value of Jitesh, who impressed during the IPL with his ability to close out innings. Gavaskar called it a "pleasant headache” for the selectors to juggle between two players capable of filling different roles.
Who makes way in the middle?
The bigger challenge lies in accommodating Samson without unsettling the existing middle order. Tilak Varma and captain Suryakumar Yadav have been regulars at No.3 and 4 in recent times. Gavaskar hinted that Tilak could be pushed into a finisher’s slot at five or six to allow Samson a top-order chance. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya remains locked into the middle as both an all-rounder and a power-hitter.
That scenario may also force one among Rinku Singh or Shivam Dube to sit out, especially with Axar Patel expected to add balance as a left-hander and a reliable spin-bowling option. Gavaskar predicted that Samson would likely get the nod in the opening games with form deciding how long he stays in the XI.
Bowling unit looks settled
On the bowling front, Gavaskar expects India to go with two spinners in Axar and Kuldeep Yadav, along with three specialist pacers supported by Hardik’s overs. He brushed aside concerns around Jasprit Bumrah’s workload, pointing out that four-over spells in T20s should not trouble him.
India will begin their Asia Cup campaign against UAE on September 10. For Samson, this could be a defining chance to prove he belongs in India’s first-choice XI rather than being seen as just another squad option.