India’s playing XI in their Asia Cup 2025 opener against UAE offered clarity on several debated selection calls, most notably, the inclusion of Sanju Samson as the designated wicketkeeper-batter.

With Shubman Gill returning to the T20I setup after a year-long stint focusing on Test and ODI formats, many questioned whether there would be space for Samson in the top or middle order. However, captain Suryakumar Yadav slotted Gill at the top of the order alongside the explosive Abhishek Sharma, while trusting Samson to anchor the middle.