“You can’t leave him out in the reserves” - Sunil Gavaskar opens up on Sanju Samson’s batting position in Asia Cup 2025

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sunil Gavaskar has stated that the Indian team management can’t leave Sanju Samson out of the XI after being part of the core team for the forthcoming Asia Cup 2025 campaign.

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Furthermore, Gavaskar felt that the Indian think tank team, including the captain and the coach, would have a good selection headache ahead of the start of the showpiece event, as they are yet to finalize on Samson’s batting position in the playing XI.

"If you take somebody like Sanju Samson in the core team, then you can't leave him out in the reserves," Gavaskar said as quoted by India Today.

"Yes, I think it's a very good headache to have for any selection committee that you have two capable batters and somebody like Sanju Samson who can maybe even bat at three and if needed come down at six as a finisher. And Jitesh has also done well in the recently concluded IPL, where he's played exceedingly well. So yes, I think it's a pleasant headache for the tour selection committee," he added.

Additionally, Gavaskar felt that Samson might get the nod ahead of Jitesh Sharma in the middle-order in the initial couple of games and then his position depends on the rest of the tournament. 

"But my feeling is that maybe Samson will probably get the nod ahead of Jitesh for at least the first couple of games. And then, depending on what his form is for the rest of the tournament. But this is what I think will happen," he noted.

He also asserted that Samson could bat in the top order and Tilak Varma could take up the finisher role. Subsequently, he felt that Hardik Pandya could bat at No.5 r No.6 in the batting order.

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"But that is why I think maybe they might even be thinking in terms of having him (Samson) at number three and having Tilak as a finisher at five or six. Because Hardik (Pandya) is in your team as well. So, Hardik will probably be batting at five or six again,” he concluded.

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