Irfan Pathan picks Sanju Samson’s ideal batting order for India in Asia Cup 2025

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Cricket fans across the globe are eagerly awaiting the Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to kick off on September 09. With top Asian teams gearing up for the prestigious T20 tournament, discussions around India’s playing XI have intensified. The focus has been on the batting order and finding the perfect balance for a star-studded lineup. Amidst this, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has shared his insights on Sanju Samson’s role and where the wicketkeeper-batter fits best in the team.

Pathan, in an interaction organized by Sony Sports Network, pointed out that Samson might face stiff competition to break into the XI but suggested that No. 5 could be his best position.

“Sanju might not get a place in the playing XI; it will be hard. But I saw some of the clips where Samson is trying to play down the order. If he can play down the order, then why not? Play Samson as well in the No. 5 position. If that happens, then Jitesh Sharma won’t be there,” Pathan remarked.

While acknowledging Samson’s talent, Pathan also underlined his inconsistency. Pathan also backed Abhishek Sharma to be a certain starter in the XI, praising his all-round skills and explosive strike rate. He said: “It’s a tough one, isn’t it? Sanju has done really well. Obviously, there is one question mark in terms of his consistency; sometimes he scores big hundreds, but at other times, he falls cheaply, and there is a pattern as well. But overall, he has done well.”

Also READ: Ajinkya Rahane names 5 Indian players to watch out for in the Asia Cup 2025

Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India is heading into the tournament with a strong mix of youth and experience. The squad features stars such as Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and young icons Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Rinku Singh, and others.

With such depth and versatility, Team India will be aiming to start their Asia Cup 2025 campaign on a winning note, while Samson’s role remains a key talking point ahead of the opener.

Also READ: Ajinkya Rahane predicts India’s playing XI for the Asia Cup 2025, no place for Sanju Samson