New Delhi: There is an intense debate over competition for spots in the team as the selectors get ready to pick India’s final 15-man squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. India already have a settled batting line-up in T20Is, but the selectors have been given a major headache due to a problem of plenty as there are many talented and prominent players in contention for a spot in the squad.
The opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma has done exceptionally well for India in T20Is since the T20 World Cup 2024 last year. However, Test skipper Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal remain in contention and are breathing down the pair’s neck. Sai Sudharsan has also been tipped by many to open for India after his consistent performances for the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2025.
Former India batter and 1983 World Cup winner Kris Srikkanth has batted for the selection of 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi as an opener in the Asia Cup 2025 squad. Srikkanth has urged the selectors to prefer Suryavanshi over Samson, highlighting the senior wicket-keeper batter’s struggles against short balls. Srikkanth believes Suryavanshi is mature enough despite being 14 and has shown he has the talent during his breakthrough campaign in IPL 2025.
“You have to play bold. Don’t make him wait. Don’t say things like ‘let him mature’. He is already playing with remarkable maturity. His shot-making has been on another level. If I were chairman, I would definitely have him in the 16,” Srikkanth said on a YouTube show.
14-year-old Suryavanshi lit up IPL 2025 for Rajasthan Royals earlier this year. He smashed the second fastest ton in IPL history off just 35 balls against Gujarat Titans and also became the youngest ever centurion in the tournament. He finished the season with an impressive 252 runs in 7 matches at a staggering strike rate of 206.55 and has continued his fine form for India U-19.
Srikkanth said he would keep Suryavanshi in the squad over Samson. He picked Suryavanshi, Jaiswal and Sudharsan as the three openers in his team alongside Abhishek Sharma while completely snubbing Samson. The former India chief selector also claimed that he would keep Suryavanshi in the mix for the T20 World Cup next year.
“Samson is doubtful, according to me. My first-choice opener is Abhishek Sharma, no doubt. I will have two more openers. My picks would be Vaibhav Suryavanshi or Sai Sudharsan, with Shubman Gill as an option. If I were selector, I would keep Vaibhav in the 15 for the T20 World Cup. He has been outstanding,” said the former India opener.
“I think it should be Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Sai Sudharsan. I would take two out of these three. That would be my preference,” he added.
Sanju Samson’s recent numbers in T20Is
Samson has been one of the most prolific run-getters for India in T20Is since the T20 World Cup final in June last year. He has formed a destructive partnership with Abhishek at the top order, and the duo have perfectly executed head coach Gautam Gambhir’s approach of high-risk risk high-reward cricket in the shortest format.
Since June last year, Samson has smashed an impressive 487 runs in 17 matches at an average of 34.78, including three centuries. The wicket-keeper batted slammed two centuries in the T20I series against South Africa last year after his brilliant 111-run knock against Bangladesh in a T20I in Hyderabad.
However, Samson struggled in India’s last T20I series against England, where he was targeted with short balls by the visitors. The ploy worked as Samson managed only 51 runs in 5 matches in the series, including three single-digit scores. However, he is likely to be backed as an opener in the upcoming Asia Cup and will remain part of the squad.