Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif feels Sanju Samson’s spot in the Asia Cup playing XI is uncertain after Shubman Gill’s return to the T20I side as vice-captain.
Kaif believes the management is likely to back Gill and Abhishek Sharma as openers, with Tilak Varma at No. 3 and skipper Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4 — a combination that could leave Samson out of the top order.Asia Cup,
Kaif further noted that Jitesh Sharma’s strong IPL 2025 performances for RCB, where he played a key role in their first-ever title win, make him a stronger candidate for the middle-order role at No. 5 or 6. Samson, who usually opens and keeps wickets, may find it difficult to adapt to those positions.
Kaif explained that the final XI will depend on form and balance once the team reaches the UAE, but at present, Samson doesn’t appear to fit into the top four. He added that Gill’s elevation to vice-captaincy alongside Abhishek Sharma’s rise sends a “warning sign” for Samson.
Despite scoring three centuries as an opener in 2024, Samson’s form dipped this year. He managed just 51 runs in five innings against England earlier in 2025 and endured an injury-hit IPL season, where he scored 285 runs in nine matches. This poor run, Kaif suggested, could work against him in the Asia Cup selection.