Ajinkya Rahane Picks India’s Playing XI For 2025 Asia Cup; Leaves Out Sanju Samson

India’s veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane has picked the team’s best playing XI for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. Rahane feels Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill will open the innings. The former Indian Test captain wants Sanju Samson to be part of the final XI but believes he would be left out as Gill has been appointed the team’s vice-captain.

Rahane said Sanju is a great team man but he might be overlooked in the playing XI. Sanju and Abhishek Sharma have performed well for the team since the Bangladesh series in 2024.

Rahane said on his YouTube Channel, “Shubman he’s back in the team, I’m sure he is most likely to open with Abhishek Sharma. Personally, I would like to see Sanju Samson in the team because he has done really well. Very confident guy, very good team man. I feel that is a very important thing.”

“Sanju is a great team man, but that’s a very good problem to have for the team management. In my opinion, probably Sanju Samson will sit out, though, as I said, I would like him to play and be in the playing XI. But Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma will open the innings for the team,” he added.

Rahane picked Tilak Varma and captain Suryakumar Yadav to be the number three and four position batters, respectively. At number five, Rahane wants all-rounder Hardik Pandya and backs Jitesh Sharma to take the glove duties and bat at number six.

Axar Patel will be the spin all-rounder in Rahane’s team and will bat at number seven. Rahane picked Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh as frontline pacers in the XI and also backed Kuldeep Yadav.

“I’m really excited to see Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh bowling together in this Asia Cup. We don’t want to talk too much about Jasprit Bumrah. We all know how dangerous he is. Arshdeep Singh, a very confident guy, swings the ball both ways. He can bowl straight and wide yorkers as well.”

The Indian batter said SKY’s team should pick either Varun Chakravarthy or Harshit Rana, based on pitch conditions.

“The 11th player will depend on the wicket because we are playing in Dubai. Depending on the wicket and conditions, either Varun Chakaravarthy or Harshit Rana,” he said.

Ajinkya Rahane’s XI for Asia Cup: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy/Harshit Rana.

India would begin their Asia Cup campaign against the UAE on September 10.