Gavaskar Wants Samson in India’s Best XI

India enter the Asia Cup as perennial favorites, having already lifted the trophy seven times. This time, they aim for an eighth title. However, with a power-packed squad at their disposal, the team management is facing a “happy headache” in picking the final XI. At the center of that debate is wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson.

With Shubman Gill returning as captain, the batting order has become even more competitive. Gill can slot in as an opener or at No. 3, while Samson too is capable of excelling in both roles. The big question remains—who should get the nod? Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has made his stance clear: Samson must be part of the starting XI.

Speaking to the media, Gavaskar said,
“You simply cannot have a player like Sanju Samson sitting in reserve. If he’s in the squad, he has to play. Samson can bat at No. 3, and if needed, he’s also capable of finishing games lower down the order.”

Samson recently impressed as an opener alongside Abhishek Sharma, but Gill’s return has intensified the competition at the top. On this, Gavaskar suggested, “At least for the first few matches, it makes sense to back Samson. Later, decisions can be made based on form.”

However, with Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Hardik Pandya anchoring the middle order, finding space for Samson won’t be easy. Gavaskar proposed pushing Tilak further down, saying he could be effectively used as a finisher at No. 5 or 6, thus freeing up the No. 3 slot for Samson.

Gavaskar also offered his thoughts on bowling combinations. He believes India should field six bowling options—three pacers, two spinners, plus Hardik Pandya. In spin, he wants Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel to play together, while in pace, he backed the inclusion of newcomer Harshit Rana to further strengthen the attack.

In Gavaskar’s view, modern T20 cricket demands bowling variety more than depth in batting. “You don’t need to stretch the batting order unnecessarily; what matters most is having options in bowling. If one bowler has an off day, you should have backups to rely on,” he emphasized.