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India coach Gautam Gambhir has thrown his weight behind Shubman Gill as India’s first-choice opener for the upcoming Asia Cup, CricBlogger has learnt. Gill is expected to partner Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order, signalling a shift towards a youthful, aggressive opening pair, especially, after showing superlative form with the bat in the recently held Test series against England.
In the middle order, the likes of Sanju Samson, captain Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma and Shreyas Iyer are almost certain to feature. Interestingly, those like Shashank Singh are also in contention, adding depth to India’s batting pool. The spin-bowling all-rounder slots could be occupied by Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, while Kuldeep Yadav remains the preferred frontline spinner.
On the pace front, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will spearhead the new-ball attack. Keeping India’s T20 template in mind, the team management is keen on fielding at least six bowling options, with Hardik Pandya expected to play a key role as the premier all-rounder.
However, the status of certain promising youngsters remains unclear. Whether the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan will get the nod is still undecided, as selectors continue to assess the ideal squad balance. Crucially, IPL form is expected to remain a major criterion for selection, meaning those who impressed in the 2024 season will have an edge when the final call is made.
This selection philosophy, however, might leave little room for power-hitters like Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh, who could struggle to retain their places despite their finishing abilities, given the emphasis on versatility and multiple bowling options.
