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In 25 T20I matches played so far for Team India, 22-year-old Tilak Varma, who is the world No. 2 T20I batter, has scored 749 runs.
Mohammad Kaif suggests Gautam Gambhir to drop Tilak Varma from India’s playing XI in Asia Cup for Sanju Samson. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)
The 2025 edition of the Asia Cup will feature a total of eight teams, and the matches in T20I format will be played from September 9 to 28 across two venues – Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Indian men’s cricket team, which also tops the ICC T20I team rankings, will enter the tournament under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership as favourites to win the trophy.
In the premier continental event, the Indian team is part of Group A, and the eight-time champions will open their campaign on September 10 against the hosts, the United Arab Emirates, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India’s second Group A match is scheduled against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai, and India will then take on Oman in the final group stage match on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.
There is still suspense over India’s opening batters and also the bowling attack for the Asia Cup 2025 due to the presence of multiple options in the 15-member squad.
Ahead of the start of the Asia Cup 2025, former India middle-order batter Mohammad Kaif has suggested head coach Gautam Gambhir a new batting position for wicketkeeper Sanju Samson and also asked his former India teammate to drop Tilak Varma from the playing XI.
Tilak, who has 749 runs to his credit in 25 T20Is played so far, is the world’s No. 2 T20I batter and is the favourite to bat at No. 3. The left-handed batter from Hyderabad, who is the youngest player in India’s Asia Cup squad, scored back-to-back centuries against South Africa last year as a No. 3 batter.
According to Kaif, Samson deserves to play at No. 3 ahead of Tilak in the Asia Cup 2025.
“Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill will open in the Asia Cup. For the No. 3 spot, I feel Tilak Varma is a youngster and can wait for his turn. Sanju is an experienced batter, and he could be groomed by giving him consistent opportunities at No. 3. There is a World Cup after six months, and he deserves a chance,” Kaif said in a video shared on his Instagram account.
“He is among the top 10 six-hitters in the IPL. That’s why I believe when Rashid Khan comes to bowl in the middle overs, there cannot be a better player against him than Sanju, as he can hit sixes down the ground. “South Africa has one of the toughest conditions for batting, and he has hit two centuries as an opener there. He plays both pace and spin well, and in the IPL, he scores 400-500 runs every year,” Kaif added.
According to Kaif, who also played in the IPL for Rajasthan Royals, Samson is scoring runs in the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) 2025 to make a case for his selection in the playing XI.
“Do you know that Sanju Samson is the most senior member of this Asia Cup squad? He made his debut in 2015. He was then a part of the T20 World Cup-winning squad in 2024 in Barbados. He didn’t get to play, but when he did get a chance, he scored runs for fun, 180 strike rate. He scored almost 450 runs. He has been scoring runs in the Kerala Cricket League and is in fine form,” Kaif said.
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