Asia Cup Dilemma: Gill vs Sanju, Who Will Open for India in Dubai?

Sept 09, 2025: Confusion hi confusion hai, solution kuch mila nahi...this line suits the Indian team management right now. In the Asia Cup, India will start their campaign against UAE in Dubai on Wednesday, but the team management is still not clear about the final eleven.

The biggest question is how to play both Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson in the team. Gill has come back to the T20 side as vice-captain, while wicketkeeper Sanju has done very well as an opener in recent matches.

Sanju’s partnership with Abhishek Sharma has been strong, and the pair is scoring runs regularly. On the other side, Gill also plays mainly as an opener. In this case, Abhishek’s place looks safe, but the doubt is between Sanju and Gill.

Conversation with Coach Gambhir

During practice at the ICC Cricket Academy ground in Dubai on Monday, Sanju first did wicketkeeping drills with fielding coach T Dilip. After that, he had a long talk with coach Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir spoke more about Sanju’s batting than his keeping. At the same time, Jitesh Sharma batted for about 80 minutes and then practiced wicketkeeping. Other batsmen who practiced in the beginning were Abhishek, Gill, Tilak, Dubey, Surya, and Hardik.

A source said that if Sanju and Abhishek open, then it will be hard to play Gill at number three, because that spot belongs to Tilak Verma. In that case, Gill may have to sit out of the final eleven. But it is also tough to leave the vice-captain out. If Gill and Abhishek open, then Sanju will have to bat at number three or in the middle order. This will change the whole batting order.

Sanju at Number Six?

Normally, Tilak bats at three, captain Suryakumar Yadav at four, and Hardik Pandya at five. Sending Sanju at number six gives no big benefit. In that case, Axar Patel will come at number seven. Another choice is to open with Gill and Abhishek and play Jitesh as wicketkeeper, who can bat in the middle order.

This means Sanju may have to sit out. Till now, the team management has not found a way to play both Gill and Sanju together. One idea is that if Sanju opens and scores big runs, and Gill fails in the middle order, then it will be tough to keep the vice-captain in the playing eleven.

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