Mohammad Kaif picks Shubman Gill as backup opener for Asia Cup
The Asia Cup 2025 is just around the corner, and fans are eagerly waiting to see their favorite teams and players take the field. As the tournament approaches, cricket experts and former players are sharing their predictions and opinions on the teams and players. One such expert is Mohammad Kaif, a former Indian cricketer who has been a part of the national team in the past. Kaif has recently shared his views on the Indian team’s squad and playing XI for the Asia Cup 2025.
In an interview with X, Kaif revealed that he has selected Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson as the openers for the Indian team. However, he also believes that Shubman Gill should be the backup opener. Kaif’s reasoning behind this selection is that Gill has been in excellent form recently and has the ability to play aggressively and take the game away from the opposition.
“Gill will be the backup opener and Jitesh Sharma will be the backup wicketkeeper. The other backups will be Varun Chakravarthy and Mohammed Siraj,” Kaif said.
Kaif’s selection of Abhishek Sharma as the first-choice opener is not surprising, given his impressive performances in recent times. Sharma has been one of the most consistent batsmen for India in the limited-overs format, and his experience of opening the innings will be crucial for the team.
Sanju Samson, on the other hand, has been a reliable batsman in the middle order for India, and Kaif believes that he has the ability to adapt to the opening role. Samson’s aggressive batting style and ability to play big shots will be an asset for the team, especially in the Powerplay overs.
Gill’s selection as the backup opener is also an interesting one, given that he has been playing in the middle order for India. However, Kaif believes that Gill has the ability to play in any position, and his aggressive batting style will be an asset for the team.
The selection of Jitesh Sharma as the backup wicketkeeper is also an interesting one, given that Rishabh Pant has been the regular wicketkeeper for India. However, Kaif believes that Sharma has the ability to play in any format, and his experience of playing in the IPL will be valuable for the team.
Varun Chakravarthy and Mohammed Siraj are the other two players who have been selected as backups for the Indian team. Chakravarthy has been in excellent form recently, and his ability to bowl in the Powerplay overs will be crucial for the team. Siraj, on the other hand, has been a reliable bowler for India, and his experience of bowling in the death overs will be valuable for the team.
In conclusion, Kaif’s selection of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson as the openers, and Shubman Gill as the backup opener, is an interesting one. While some may argue that Gill is too inexperienced to play in the opening role, Kaif believes that he has the ability to adapt to any position. The selection of Jitesh Sharma as the backup wicketkeeper, and Varun Chakravarthy and Mohammed Siraj as the backup bowlers, also shows that Kaif has thought carefully about the team’s needs.
Only time will tell if Kaif’s selection proves to be correct or not. However, one thing is certain – the Asia Cup 2025 promises to be an exciting tournament, and fans are eagerly waiting to see their favorite teams and players take the field.
