India enters Asia Cup cricket campaign with an eye on home Twenty20 World Cup
Suryakumar Yadav’s India lineup will have one eye on an Asia Cup title defense and the other on the Twenty20 World Cup it is co-hosting next year when it opens Group A against United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.
India is the designated host of this 2025 edition of the Asia Cup, although it is being played at a neutral venue in the UAE under Asian Cricket Council’s guidelines for when the continental tournament is scheduled for either India or Pakistan.The Asia Cup marks a resumption of cricket ties between India and Pakistan only months after the neighbouring countries were engaged in a tense border tension in May that disrupted the IPL and the Pakistan Super League.
India’s government has given the national cricket team permission to play against Pakistan only in multi-nation tournaments.
The first of a potential three meetings at the Asian Cup will be on Sunday — with a chance for more in the Super 4 stage and the Sept. 28 final. India also faces tournament newcomer Oman in the group stage on Sept. 19Gill scored 754 runs in England as India’s new test skipper, helping the team draw 2-2 in the five-match series, and now returns as T20 vice-captain.
T20 ace Suryakumar Yadav retained captaincy, so there’s some speculation about where Gill will slot into the XI.Since July of last year, Samson has scored 487 runs in 17 matches at an impressive strike-rate and hit three centuries. Those three hundreds inflated his run-tally, though, and masked a string of poor scores in between. Samson scored 111, 107 and 109 not out across five innings last October and November against Bangladesh (home) and South Africa (away). Take away those scores and he is left with 160 runs in 13 inningsAlong with Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya, he provides a solid finishing platform for India, putting Samson’s place in some doubt.
“Samson should be left alone as opener – he is most dangerous at the top and can win you matches,” Ravi Shastri, former India captain and coach, told the Asia Cup’s broadcasters. “Gill can come in for someone else.”
No bowling headache for India
Jasprit Bumrah ‘s fitness and availability leaves Samson’s position as India’s only selection headache. Bumrah featured in three of India’s five tests in England and, after being released from the squad ahead
“He has been very successful in the IPL. He was part of the Indian team earlier, too. The kind of form he is in, it really augurs well,” India great Sunil Gavaskar, who is part of the commentary panel for the Asia Cup, said. “Having him back was a