Sanju Samson or Jitesh Sharma? Akash Chopra told this wicketkeeper batsman for Asia Cup 2025

By Cross Talk India Team Last updated Sep 2, 2025

The preparation of the Indian team for the Asia Cup 2025 is in full swing and in the meantime the biggest discussion is about who should play the role of wicketkeeper-batsman in the playing XI. Both Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma are included in the squad, but the selection seems difficult to see the initial position and the need of the middle order.

Meanwhile, in the former India opener Akash Chopra and in the present time, the commentator while talking on his YouTube channel on Monday (1 September) said that according to him, Jitesh Sharma should play in the XI Cup in the Asia Cup. Citing his figures, Chopra said that Jitesh’s strike rate is 166 and average 28 in T20, which makes him ahead of the rest of the players. He scored 261 runs playing the role of Finisher for RCB in IPL 2025, that too at a strike rate of 176, due to which the team contributed significantly in winning the title.

Talking about Sanju Samson on the other hand, Akash said that the figures in the top order in Sanju’s T20 are excellent in the top 6000 runs at a strike rate of 140 and an average of 33. But when it comes to the middle order, their numbers fall. His average in 98 matches from number four to seven is just 20 and the strike rate was 126.

Significantly, Sanju Samson was playing as an opener with Abhishek Sharma for India in T20 for the last one year and he also performed well. But the situation became a bit complicated as soon as Team India’s squad was declared for the Asia Cup 2025. After Shubman Gill was made the vice -captain, the big question also arose as to who will get a chance from Sanju and Gill on the opening slot.

However, before the Asia Cup, Sanju has created a storm with his bat in the Kerala Cricket League (KCL). He has scored 368 runs in just five innings so far in this tournament, at an average of 73.6 and a strike rate of 186.8. During this, he played bang innings like 121 (51 balls), 89 (46 balls), 62 (37 balls) and 83 (41 balls), with 24 fours and 30 sixes.

Akash Chopra has told his choice, but now it has to be seen whether the Indian team Management Asia Cup gives priority to Kerala’s superstar Sanju Samson or power hitter Jitesh Sharma in 2025.