'Folks get scared with that opening combination': R Ashwin drops Sanju Samson as he announces India's playing XI for T20 Asia Cup 2025

UPDATED: Sep 10, 2025 12:42 PM IST

'Folks get scared with that opening combination': R Ashwin drops Sanju Samson as he announces India's playing XI for T20 Asia Cup 2025

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson, along with Ravichandran Ashwin and other players, is expressing gratitude towards their fans and supporters after IPL 2024 match against Mumbai Indians at Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

Story Highlights:

R Ashwin does not see Sanju Samson playing against UAE.

Ashwin picked Jitesh Sharma as wicketkeeper-batter ahead of Samson.

Ashwin's predicted playing XI did not feature Rinku Singh or Shivam Dube.

India's legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has left out his former captain at Rajasthan Royals (RR), Sanju Samson as he picked the playing eleven for the UAE clash in T20 Asia Cup 2025. Ashwin feels that Abhishek Sharma and T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill will make a formidable opening combination. He is not concerned about Gill's strike rate as he can anchor the innings while Abhishek goes after the bowlers.

"Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. Folks get scared with that opening combination. Shubman Gill knows he needs to make runs, and he will want to make runs. He is a run machine. He can make big runs at a lower strike rate," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

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However, Ashwin feels that Gill can score a century at a strike rate of almost 200. In fact, he has done it in the past as well, not just in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Gujarat Titans (GT). In 2023 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, he scored 126 runs from 63 balls, including 12 fours and seven sixes.

"Abhishek Sharma will tee off at one end. Shubman Gill could be the glue around which the team is built up.

“In today's times, there is not a lot of need to become the glue in T20 cricket. But Shubman has it in him to play conventional cricket and still make a 100 off 55 balls," Ashwin further elaborated.

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On the eve of the UAE clash in the captains’ press conference, captain Suryakumar Yadav did not reveal the side but said that Samson will be taken care of.

“Sir, I shall message you the playing XI. But yes, we are really taking good care of him and don’t worry, we shall make the right decision,” Suryakumar said in a humorous manner when asked about Samson.

Ashwin’s India Playing XI vs UAE -

Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah.