New Delhi: The much-anticipated Asia Cup 2025 starts in just a week’s time and all the teams are busy in preparations for the continental event. Asia Cup starts in the UAE on September 9 and India play their opening match on September 10 against hosts UAE. After India announced their squad for the tournament and named Test skipper Shubman Gill in it, the discussion regarding who will bat at number 3 began.
Gill, who has been named the deputy to skipper Suryakumar Yadav, will prefer his opening slot while batting with partner and Punjab batter Abhishek Sharma. With Gill and Abhishek opening for the Men in Blue, the number three slot would prove to be tricky for Team India to decide as Sanju Samson had opened with Abhishek in the last T20I series.
Tussle for number three slot: Kaif
But with Gill included in the squad, Samson would be expected to leave his opening slot and move to number three which should be ideal for the team. But with the flamboyant Tilak Verma in the squad, who comes up for the team at number three, it will be nothing short of a massive tussle.
Addressing this, former Indian all-rounder Mohammed Kaif, on his YouTube channel, backed batter Sanju Samson for the forthcoming Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE. Kaif on Wednesday said that Samson should be preferred over Tilak Verma at the number three slot as he is much experienced while Tilak is comparatively younger. Kaif further said that Samson has been in a fabulous form in the season and has proved his skills in the last IPL as well.
As one of the main six-hitters in the team. Samson should be preferred above Tilak when it comes to the place of batting in the marquee event. Kaif further said that the T20 World Cup is just six months away and it will be a good grooming opportunity for the experienced batter.