Asia Cup 2025: 5 Players who were underutilized

Published - 27 Sept 2025, 12:36 IST | Updated - 27 Sept 2025, 13:00 IST

The Asia Cup 2025 is nearing its conclusion, with India and Pakistan booking their spots in the final. The continental tournament witnessed eight teams competing fiercely for glory, with most players showcasing their best skills. For instance, Abhishek Sharma from India opened for the side in the tournament, and performer consistently throughout the season to emerge as the highest run-getter in the competition.

However, not all players were given the opportunity to make an impact, and some were underutilized despite their potential. Here, CricTracker analyses five such players who could have made it to the Playing XI in different roles and played key roles in the side's win(s).

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson was one of the standout players who was underutilized in the tournament. Traditionally an opener, Samson was pushed down the order and asked to bat in multiple positions. This constant shuffling disrupted the Kerala cricketer's rhythm and affected his performance.

To cite an example, in the final group clash against Oman, he played at No. 3 and scored 56 runs, while against Pakistan, he batted at No. 5 and managed only 13 runs. In the Super Fours match against Sri Lanka, he again batted at No. 5, scoring 39 runs. The star wicketkeeper-batter's strength lies at the top of the order, and placing him in unfamiliar positions limited his potential impact.