Suryakumar Yadav has offered his support for Sanju Samson amidst the ongoing debate regarding the final team selection for the Asia Cup 2025. India is scheduled to play its opening match against the UAE on Wednesday at the Dubai International Stadium. A key question remains: who will be the wicketkeeper?
When questioned about Sanju Samson’s possible inclusion, Suryakumar Yadav responded with a cryptic message, stating, “Sir, I will message you the Playing XI.” He further added, “We are actually taking really good care of him. And don’t worry. We will make the right decision tomorrow.”
Samson has been a prominent choice this season, but Jitesh Sharma’s consistent performances make the decision difficult. With Shubman Gill confirmed as an opener after being named vice-captain, and Abhishek Sharma likely to open alongside him, Samson’s best opportunity in the team appears to be at number six, where he could compete with Jitesh for a spot.
Meanwhile, the UAE, despite recent losses in a tri-series against Pakistan and Afghanistan, has shown promising signs. Playing in their home conditions, the underdogs pose a potential challenge, and India is aware of the need to avoid underestimating them.
The team’s preparation is also influenced by India’s lack of recent T20I match practice. Their last match in the format was against England in January. While players have participated in the IPL, the team hasn’t played together in international cricket for several months. Suryakumar acknowledged this but emphasized that such situations are sometimes unavoidable due to a busy schedule.