Asia Cup 2025: Srikkanth Backs Sudharsan, Suryavanshi or Jaiswal Over Samson
⚡ Asia Cup 2025: Srikkanth snubs Samson for opening slot, picks young IPL stars to partner Abhishek Sharma.
Abhishek Sharma to Open — Srikkanth Rejects Samson, Names Alternatives
Former India opener and 1983 World Cup-winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth believes Sanju Samson should not open in the upcoming Asia Cup, starting September 9 in the UAE. He has instead suggested that Abhishek Sharma partner with either Sai Sudharsan, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, or Yashasvi Jaiswal (🌟) at the top of the order.
Speaking on his YouTube channel Cheeky Cheeka (as quoted by Sportskeeda), Srikkanth said Samson struggled against short-pitched deliveries during India’s recent England tour. He also proposed that India pick between Samson and Jitesh Sharma as wicketkeeper-batter for the tournament.
"If I was a selector, Abhishek Sharma would be my No. 1 choice. For the second opener, I’d go with Sudharsan, Suryavanshi, or Jaiswal. This is a highly competitive environment," Srikkanth said.
Young Guns in the Spotlight ⚡
♦ Sai Sudharsan: IPL 2025 Orange Cap winner with 759 runs in 15 matches, known for consistency and range.
♦ Vaibhav Suryavanshi: Rising star who smashed the fastest century by an Indian in IPL history — in just 35 balls.
♦ Yashasvi Jaiswal: Proven T20I performer with 723 runs in 23 matches at a strike rate above 164, alongside a 559-run IPL 2025 season.
Samson's Case for Retention 📊
Samson has been in solid form since the last T20 World Cup. In 31 T20s (30 innings), he has scored 908 runs at an average of 33.62 and a strike rate of 157.09, including three centuries and three fifties. He has also forged a strong partnership with Abhishek Sharma as an opener.
Despite these numbers, Srikkanth is firm on testing India's next generation at the Asia Cup. "This is about building a squad for the T20 World Cup," he added, emphasizing the need to give younger players opportunities on the big stage.
