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Former Indian head coach and commentator Ravi Shastri has stated that Sanju Samson should open the innings along with Abhishek Sharma in the forthcoming Asia Cup 2025 campaign, which is set to start on September 9 in the UAE.
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Speaking exclusively on Sony Sports Network, Shastri reckoned that Sanju Samson is a dangerous, lethal batter and match-winner whenever he is batting at the top order, adding that he can challenge someone like Shubman Gill at the top.
“Samson is at his most dangerous at the top. That is where he can win you matches. If he fires in any of the innings, he wins you the matches. He is best left alone at the top,” Shastri said during a virtual media interaction for Sony Sports Network on Saturday.
“When you look at Samson’s record for India in T20Is at the top of the order, even someone like Shubman will be challenged. He may come in for someone else, but I think Samson should be left alone. He is dangerous. He is lethal. He is a match-winner,” he added.
Moreover, Shastri also had his say on Shubman Gill’s rise with the willow and as a captain. When asked by a fan about Gill leading the Indian team across formats, Shastri felt that he is unstoppable at the moment.
“If a player can ensure he is in the XI and become a vital cog in all formats, then by all means. If someone is good enough, there is nothing that stops one man from leading in all formats,” he concluded.
India’s squad for Asia Cup: Surya Kumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.
Standby players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel.
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