Star Batter Named in Team India Squad but Could Miss Asia Cup Matches for This Big Reason

India’s opening practice for the Asia Cup 2025 at the ICC Academy in Dubai began with light drills, and players easing into the rhythm. But come day two, the intensity picked up. Well, practice sessions might not reveal the playing 11, but they do give a hint about the potential starting 11 and which players are most likely to be a part of the mix.

Amidst all this, there was one player whose absence stood out in the practice session, and that was one of the best wicketkeepers in IPL, Sanju Samson. He warmed up like everyone else, a few sprints, some brief fielding work, but after that, he spent most of the evening sitting quietly on a red icebox at the edge of the training session just watching.

Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma Set to Open in Asia Cup 2025

In the team India squad for the Asia Cup 2025, there was Shubman Gill, now back as vice-captain, facing a lot of deliveries during practice. Sanju Samson, ironically, had filled in for Gill during his absence and had some standout performances late last year and into early 2025. And yet, most likely, he is going to be sidelined.

Then came Jitesh Sharma and Rinku Singh, each grinding through their batting sessions. With Jitesh being the other wicketkeeping option and Rinku one of the team's go-to finishers. These two players are mainly the competition Sanju Samson is against for that one batting slot.

For nearly two hours, the nets were reserved for just six players: Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Jitesh, and Rinku. This offered a small glimpse into the team management’s current mindset. And as Samson watched from outside, the message was almost clear.

Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma have been playing together since they were kids, and that bond showed during India’s second practice session in Dubai. The two stuck together through most of the session. They started with catching practice under fielding coach T. Dilip, then moved to the net farthest from the main group. There, they faced the new ball from Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah. A little later, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube joined the bowling group.

No Place for Sanju Samson in the Asia Cup 2025 Playing 11?

During the practice session in the other net, Rinku Singh was the first to bat. He faced spin from Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Axar Patel. After him, Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav stepped in, both spending a good amount of time dealing with spin. Tilak was the last one to leave the nets. One of the best spinners in the world in the T20 format, Varun Chakaravarthy, bowled one of the longest spells of the evening. After that, he worked on high catches with fielding coach T. Dilip.

Sanju Samson, meanwhile, stayed mostly on the outside. He didn’t take part in any fielding drills, and his batting time was short. He got a quick hit in the nets with the all-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel. He batted briefly with Hardik, then moved to face spin in another net.

While Sanju Samson was still out in the middle, Gautam Gambhir was spotted having a long chat with Suryakumar Yadav near the sidelines. Before long, Shubman Gill joined the conversation too. Now, they could’ve been talking about anything, but judging by how the night played out, it didn’t seem like Sanju Samson was the focus. This training session didn't officially reveal the playing XI, but it did drop subtle clues for Samson.