Yashasvi Jaiswal Or Shubman Gill: Who Should Be Indias Back Opener For Asia Cup 2025? Ex-IND Player Reveals His Pick
The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is likely to meet on August 19 to pick India's squad for the Asia Cup 2025. The selectors have a tough task to pick a 15-member squad as India have a large pool of talented players.
India face a complex dilemma in selecting their opening batting pair for the Asia Cup 2025. Not only openers, the competition for back up opener spots is also tough.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes Yashasvi Jaiswal has a slight edge over Shubman Gill in the race for a place in India's squad for the 2025 Asia Cup. He feels Jaiswal's game is more suited towards T20.
Notably, Gill and Jaiswal last played a T20I more than a year ago, with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson becoming the first-choice opening pair.
"It is important that you keep an opener with you because, while counting the previous 15-member squad, there was no third opener in the Indian team. We never thought that if Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson would lose their form, then who would open. But then, you have to keep a third opener for the World Cup
As per T20 figures, Yashasvi is little ahead of Shubman. The way he plays T20 and the DNA of the team, he also marries that style. Sometimes it also happens that if you pick Shubman as the third opener, who is your Test captain, the ODI vice-captain, now you have him on the bench in T20Is, that will not look very nice," said Chopra on his YouTube channel.
"So the selectors will be thinking that if we are going to select Shubman, then we will have to give him a place in the eleven. Though picking Shubman is tempting, but I feel Yashasvi should be slightly ahead in this race," he added.
Also Read: All Eyes On India vs Pakistan Clash As Asia Cup 2025 To Be Played From September 9 In UAE
Interestingly, India already has a settled T20I team which features proven performers. So, it will be interesting to see how selectors accommodate players.
"But if that third opener is Shubman, do you want him to sit on the bench? If you don't make him sit and play in the eleven, who will he come in for? If that player's name is Sanju Samson, who will keep wickets?" said Chopra.
"That is the problem because we don't see Sanju Samson playing in the middle order. You would want him at the top of the order. Tilak and Surya will play at number three and four. So, Sanju at fifth? That won't be a good story. If you want someone at fifth, then you will have to think about Jitesh Sharma because he has done very well in the IPL," he concluded.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
15 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Ashwin expounds on Shubman Gill vs Yashasvi Jaiswal Asia Cup debate: 'Rohit Sharma not in team, so he automatically...'
Veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin discussed a few talking points regarding India's squad for the upcoming Asia Cup. The selectors have not announced the squad yet, as they must be in a dilemma over some big choices. It is going to be a tough task for the defending champions to get their combination right, as it is going to be the first tournament after the transition period started after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's retirements. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had to make a call with coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Suryakumar Yadav on whether to bring back Test captain Shubman Gill back in the T20I side. Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal is another player who will be in contention for a place in the Asia Cup squad. India Shubman Gill, left, and Yashasvi Jaiswal might fight for a place for opener in the Asia Cup squad.(PTI) Ashwin weighed in on the Gill vs Jaiswal debate for the Asia Cup, pointing out that the left-hander was chosen ahead of the current Test captain as a backup in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which has now strengthened his case for selection. 'There are a few talking points regarding the Asia Cup. The first question that comes to everyone's mind is whether Shubman Gill fits into the T20 plans because in the last World Cup, Yashasvi Jaiswal was the backup opener," Ashwin said while speaking on his YouTube channel. 'So Jaiswal automatically gets a kick-in. Rohit Sharma is not going to be a part of that team, so Jaiswal automatically gets a look-in. Now, who is going to be that other opener?" Ashwin added. 'Sanju Samson has had a fabulous run too…' The former Indian cricketer asserted that Shubman recently had an incredible Test series to make a claim to get picked. He also pointed out that Sanju Samson has performed exceedingly well as an opener in the shortest format for India so far. 'Shubman Gill had an outstanding series. Can he return to the squad? Sanju Samson has had a fabulous run as a T20 opener for India. So I think it is a tricky state for the selectors," he said. Meanwhile, he also emphasised that Shreyas Iyer has built a strong case for a return, adding another layer of complexity to the selection decisions. Can Shreyas Iyer make a comeback? There is a lot of decision-making that the selectors have to make," Ashwin said.
Indian Express
17 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Aakash Chopra on KL Rahul's chances of getting selected for Asia Cup 2025 squad: ‘If something is stopping him, it's his own mindset'
KL Rahul in T20 cricket is an enigma despite churning out runs season after season in the IPL. The question of strike rate has always hung around him. Do modern T20 has a place for an anchor like him or not is a different debate; however, Rahul has all the shots to play the modern way, which can integrate him into any side, and with his versatility of batting at any number, he is an asset. However, will he be picked for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, which is to be played in the shorter format? Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra answered on his YouTube channel to a query. 'Very, very interesting one. Your question is absolutely valid because he is a good player. If you see his IPL numbers, they are outstanding. In the recent past, no player has been a 600-run bank like him. However, a reputation has developed that he plays very slow at times,' he responded 'If something is stopping him, it's his own mindset. Sometimes his legs are shackled, and when the mindset is right, he flies with wings. I feel he has the game. I remember a shot, it was the Indore ground, and he hit Jasprit Bumrah for a six over cover, and I was like wow. However, then you also get knocks when you feel that he should hit, but he thinks differently,' he observed. 'He cannot play as an opener because the opening story has ended, unfortunately, for the time being. Sanju Samson is there with Abhishek Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal is behind them, and I am putting Shubman Gill's name also at the fourth spot. Four people are standing in the line,' he said 'Ishan Kishan is saying that he is also there. Everyone wants to open. So there is no place for an opener. You will have to play in the middle order, and there, Jitesh Sharma is one, who has done very well, played an excellent IPL, and made his team win. Sanju Samson is opening at the moment. So a keeper is not required. Dhruv Jurel is also standing behind,' Chopra observed.
Indian Express
17 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Kriish Tyagi the only Indian in US Open Junior Championships says he feels ready now
Tennis player Kriish Tyagi is the only Indian in the US Open Junior Tennis Championships 2025, which is scheduled to start from August 31. Hailing from Bengaluru, Tyagi started as a swimmer at the age of 10, and he switched to Tennis. He has already managed to participate in Wimbledon and the Australian Open. 'Hitting with the players, being a part of that environment, made me feel like I belonged,' Tyagi said. 'I was a little nervous during my singles match at Wimbledon- the crowd and atmosphere, it's not something I was used to. But I took that reflection into my doubles and I felt much more confident.' 'For the US Open, we skipped a few events to make time for physical, mental, and skillful training. I feel more ready now,' he added. 'One key thing I want to bring to the US Open is strength, physical dominance, and mental resilience during clutch points. That's where I believe I can grow,' said Kriish. The 18-year-old is the current number one from India in the Juniors category. US Open seniors category has always been at the forefront of the tennis world when it comes to prize money distribution, the first Grand Slam that announced pay parity all the way back in 1973, championed by Billie Jean King. On Wednesday, the tournament announced that the 2025 edition will create a new record in tennis history. The prize money at 2025 US Open will rise to nearly $85 million across all competitions this year, including a record $5 million each to the women's and men's singles champions, and total player compensation (including costs earmarked for hotel and food and not associated with performance) is $90 million, jumping 20%. The US Tennis Association announced the payouts Wednesday for the year's last Grand Slam tournament, which begins with the new mixed doubles event and its $1 million top check on Aug. 19-20. Singles competition starts on a Sunday for the first time — Aug. 24 — as those brackets expand from 14 days to 15.
