Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) wicketkeeper-Baater Parthiv Patel has named India for his Asia Cup 2025 opener against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Patel also left the XI wicketkeeper-bater Sanju Samson and the middle-order batter Rinku Singh for the upcoming clash.
Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, India, Pakistan, Oman and UAE are in Group A. Men in Blue will launch their campaign against UAE at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 10 September. They are facing challenges on the selection of the team, with a call between Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson for the wicketkeeper.
Parthiv Patel plays India’s game 11 for the Asia Cup 2025 opener
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Parthiv Patel shared his views on the combination of the Indian team. He said that Vice-captain Shubman Gill should be a companion to Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order. Patel selected Tilak Verma at number 3 and Captain Suryakumar Yadav at number 4.
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Given Jitesh Sharma for wicketkeeping duties by cricketer-turn-commentator, he can also provide a finishing role in the lower middle order. Parthiv said that India can take three all-rounders in the XI.
40-year-old Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dubey went as a seam-bouling option, while Axar Patel is a spinner. He selected a motion attack on Jaspreet Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, with Varun Chakarwarthi Lone expert Spinner. Patel did not include the wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in his lineup.
Parthiv Patel is playing 11 for the India Asia Cup 2025. Opener vs UAE
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Verma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma, Exer Patel, Shivam Dubey, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Varun Chakarwarthi.
Rinku Singh has scored an average of 42 runs with a strike rate above 161. However, he has struggled in recent games, managing only 67 runs in his last five T20I. Southpo was not properly used by Kolkata Knight Riders for his full batting capacity in IPL 2025.
Sanju Samson will have to sit outside – Parthiv Patel
Parthiv Patel said that Sanju Samson cannot find a place in the XI of India for the Asia Cup 2025. He further said that the management sees Shubman Gill as a future all format leader for India.
“They must sit out. Given the combination and the return of Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson will have to sit out. (11:47) last year Sanju has been excellent for Samson, but there is no place for him in this combination.”
“It surely seems to be the team management that Shubman Gill will soon be India’s all-format captain. He captained the tests and is now vice-captained here. He has now been a vice-captain in Odis for a year. Therefore, Shubman Gill is definitely being seen in that role.”
Sanju Samson has scored 861 out of 42 matches at a healthy strike rate of 152.38, including three centuries as a opener in 2024. However, wicketkeeper-better has struggled to score continuously in mid-order.
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