India vs UAE Asia Cup 2025: Jitesh Sharma left out, Sanju Samson finds a spot in the India Playing XI

In the lead-up to India’s Asia Cup 2025 opener against the UAE, multiple permutations and combinations were discussed to fit Sanju Samson into the Playing XI. Doubts over the opener’s spot in the starting lineup arose the moment India squad for Asia Cup was announced. Shubman Gill returned to the T20I setup after a year, coming in as vice-captain and virtually securing his place in the Playing XI. Gill’s inclusion was bound to disrupt the settled order, and the axe was hanging directly over Sanju Samson. However, predictions of Samson missing out have been put to rest, as the wicketkeeper has been named in the India Playing XI for the India vs UAE Asia Cup 2025 clash.

India vs UAE: Sanju Samson named in the India Playing XI for the Asia Cup 2025 campaign opener

Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to bowl first in the Asia Cup campaign opener against the UAE. The India Playing XI has left out the likes of Arshdeep Singh and Jitesh Sharma. Vice-captain Shubman Gill will likely open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma. Tilak Varma will come in next at No. 3, followed by Suryakumar Yadav. Meanwhile, the management has opted to experiment with Samson’s usual spot.

Initially, the expectation was that Jitesh Sharma would feature as the designated wicketkeeper and middle-order option. However, Sanju Samson has beenA included in the India Playing XI ahead of Jitesh, with indications that the wicketkeeper-batter may have to shift his place in the batting order. Interestingly, Samson had chosen to play in the middle order during the KCL. However, the Kerala batter quickly returned to his preferred opening role, where he impressed with blazing knocks, including a century in the T20 league.

Since the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup, Samson has emerged as India’s second-highest run-scorer in the format, smashing three centuries in his last 10 T20I innings. However, notably, all of his standout performances have come while batting in the top order. It remains to be seen whether India’s gamble pays off before the high-stakes India vs Pakistan clash at the marquee tournament.

On the bowling front, India has gone with Jasprit Bumrah as the pace spearhead, while their leading wicket-taker in the format, Arshdeep Singh, has been left out. Instead, the India Playing XI for the Asia Cup campaign opener features a spin-heavy attack, with both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy included in the combination.

India Playing XI for the Asia Cup 2025 clash against UAE

Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy